With the Calhoun school system suffering a budget deficit in excess of $1.7 million dollars, likely increasing, the current release of statewide test scores adds to the challenge.

Calhoun students scored the lowest in proficiency in the 2016 statewide testing cycle in three core subjects among the six regional counties, Roane, Wirt, Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, and Ritchie.

In science, Calhoun scored slightly higher than Ritchie County.

Sadly, only McDowell County scored lower than Calhoun in Reading Language Arts among the 55 counties.

Seven WV counties scored lower than Calhoun in Math and 12 county systems scoring worse in Science.

The testing results in the state's 55 counties were dismal, with an average showing 47% proficient in Reading Language Arts, 30% proficient in Math and 36% proficient in Science.

The overlay for West Virginia education, the Nations Report Card has said the state is near the bottom among the 50 states with educational outcomes.

REGIONAL COUNTY SUMMARY

Proficient Reading Language Arts:

Clay 51%
Ritchie 47%
Braxton 47%
Gilmer 46%
Wirt 43%
Roane 43%
Calhoun 36%

Proficient Math

Wirt 36%
Clay 30%
Gilmer 30%
Braxton 28%
Ritchie 27%
Roane 22%
Calhoun 21%

Proficient Science

Clay 44%
Braxton 39%
Gilmer 39%
Wirt 35%
Roane 35%
Calhoun 34%
Ritchie 30%

READ statewide county-by-county results

ALSO ED-WATCH: CALHOUN MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL TEST RESULTS DISMAL - State Scores Show Low Proficiency, Arnoldsburg School Exceeds State Averages