Best West Virginia 51��s (2026)

West Virginia is the #42 largest school system in the United States, serving 246,085 students across the 701 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are , serving 13,966 students). 95% of all K-12 students in West Virginia attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.

The percentage of students achieving in West Virginia is 34%. The percentage of students achieving is 41%.

The top-ranked public schools in West Virginia are Greenmont Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, and Sherman Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test scores.

There are 47 Blue Ribbon Schools, 5 charter schools, and 1 special education schools.

Minority enrollment is 12%, with the majority being Black and the student-teacher ratio is 13:1.

Overview

This State (WV)

# Schools

701 Schools

# Students

246,085 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per 51��
Year	West Virginia
2017	341
2016	342
2015	347
2014	369
2013	357
2012	364
2011	361
2010	365
2009	370
2008	365
2007	354
2006	361
2005	346
2004	349
2003	361
2002	354
2001	340
2000	341
1999	335
1998	348
1997	343
1996	343
1995	360
1994	352
1993	344
1992	334
1991	336
1990	337
1989	343
1988	338
1987	337

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Gender %

# Teachers

18,657 Teachers

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Teachers Per 51��
Year	West Virginia
2017	42
2016	41
2015	42
2014	44
2013	41
2012	43
2011	42
2010	43
2009	41
2008	43
2007	44
2006	41
2005	43
2004	40
2003	41
2002	40
2001	40
2000	41
1999	41
1998	40
1997	40
1996	38
1995	40
1994	37
1993	37
1992	36
1991	39
1990	37
1989	38
1988	37
1987	37

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Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (1987-2023)
Year	West Virginia
2023	13:1
2022	13:1
2021	14:1
2020	14:1
2019	14:1
2018	15:1
2017	14:1
2016	15:1
2015	14:1
2014	14:1
2013	14:1
2012	14:1
2011	14:1
2010	15:1
2009	15:1
2008	15:1
2007	15:1
2006	15:1
2005	15:1
2004	15:1
2003	15:1
2002	15:1
2001	14:1
2000	14:1
1999	15:1
1998	15:1
1997	15:1
1996	15:1
1995	15:1
1994	15:1
1993	16:1
1992	16:1
1991	16:1
1990	16:1
1989	16:1
1988	16:1
1987	17:1

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Student By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	West Virginia
Pre-K	14,983
Kind	16,757
1	16,888
2	17,420
3	16,764
4	15,751
5	17,832
6	17,825
7	18,257
8	18,212
9	20,756
10	19,734
11	18,284
12	16,622

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State Acdeamy

State Average (WV)

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	34%
2022	32%
2021	28%
2019	38%
2018	37%
2017	35%
2016	33%
2015	30%
2014	42%
2013	46%
2012	48%

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43%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	43%
2022	41%
2021	40%
2018	45%
2017	47%
2015	46%
2014	47%
2013	48%
2012	49%
2011	48%
2010	42%

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28%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	28%
2022	28%
2021	27%

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91%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	91%
2022	91%
2021	90%
2020	90%
2019	90%
2018	89%
2017	89%
2016	89%
2015	86%
2014	84%
2013	81%

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Eligible for

50%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	50%
2022	50%
2021	50%
2020	48%
2019	48%
2018	14%
2017	14%
2016	22%
2015	22%
2014	23%
2013	47%
2012	45%
2011	44%
2010	43%
2009	41%
2008	40%
2007	40%
2006	40%
2005	40%
2004	39%
2003	38%
2002	39%
2001	39%
2000	40%
1999	41%
1998	41%
1997	40%
1996	39%
1995	39%
1994	36%
1993	35%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	5%
2022	5%
2021	5%
2020	5%
2019	5%
2018	2%
2017	2%
2016	3%
2015	4%
2014	3%
2013	5%
2012	8%
2011	8%
2010	9%
2009	9%
2008	9%
2007	10%
2006	10%
2005	10%
2004	10%
2003	10%
2002	11%
2001	11%
2000	10%
1999	10%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.22

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	0.21
2022	0.21
2021	0.21
2020	0.19
2019	0.19
2018	0.19
2017	0.19
2016	0.19
2015	0.19
2014	0.17
2013	0.17
2012	0.15
2011	0.15
2010	0.15
2009	0.13
2008	0.13
2007	0.13
2006	0.12
2005	0.12
2004	0.12
2003	0.12
2002	0.10
2001	0.10
2000	0.08
1999	0.07
1998	0.07
1997	0.07
1996	0.08
1995	0.08
1994	0.08
1993	0.08

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# American Indian Students

228 Students

% American Indian Students

n/a

# Asian Students

1,682 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	1%
2022	1%
2021	1%
2020	1%
2019	1%
2018	1%
2017	1%
2016	1%
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	1%
2011	1%
2010	2%
2009	1%
2008	1%
2007	1%
2006	1%
2005	1%
2004	1%
2003	2%

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# Hispanic Students

5,925 Students

% Hispanic Students

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	2%
2022	2%
2021	2%
2020	2%
2019	2%
2018	2%
2017	2%
2016	2%
2015	2%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	1%
2011	1%
2010	1%
2009	1%
2008	1%
2007	1%
2006	1%
2005	1%

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# Black Students

10,432 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	4%
2022	4%
2021	4%
2020	4%
2019	4%
2018	4%
2017	4%
2016	4%
2015	5%
2014	5%
2013	5%
2012	5%
2011	5%
2010	5%
2009	5%
2008	5%
2007	5%
2006	4%
2005	5%
2004	5%
2003	4%
2002	4%
2001	4%
2000	3%
1999	4%
1998	4%
1997	4%
1996	4%
1995	4%
1994	4%
1993	4%

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# White Students

216,526 Students

% White Students

88%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	89%
2022	89%
2021	89%
2020	90%
2019	90%
2018	90%
2017	90%
2016	90%
2015	90%
2014	91%
2013	91%
2012	92%
2011	92%
2010	92%
2009	93%
2008	93%
2007	93%
2006	94%
2005	93%
2004	93%
2003	94%
2002	95%
2001	95%
2000	96%
1999	96%
1998	96%
1997	96%
1996	96%
1995	96%
1994	96%
1993	96%

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# Hawaiian Students

143 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

# Two or more races Students

11,149 Students

% of Two or more races Students

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	4%
2022	4%
2021	4%
2020	3%
2019	3%
2018	3%
2017	3%
2016	3%
2015	2%
2014	2%
2013	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (WV)

Total Revenue

$3,933 MM

View Data

Median Total Revenues Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	$44 MM
2022	$43 MM
2021	$44 MM
2020	$43 MM
2019	$42 MM
2018	$44 MM
2017	$45 MM
2016	$43 MM
2015	$43 MM
2014	$48 MM
2012	$55 MM
2011	$47 MM
2010	$43 MM
2009	$44 MM
2008	$40 MM
2007	$42 MM
2006	$41 MM
2005	$38 MM
2004	$36 MM
2003	$34 MM
2002	$34 MM
2001	$32 MM
2000	$33 MM
1999	$30 MM
1998	$32 MM
1997	$30 MM
1996	$30 MM
1995	$29 MM

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Spending

$3,730 MM

View Data

Median Total Expenditures Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	$42 MM
2022	$41 MM
2021	$42 MM
2020	$41 MM
2019	$42 MM
2018	$42 MM
2017	$43 MM
2016	$43 MM
2015	$46 MM
2014	$46 MM
2012	$48 MM
2011	$51 MM
2010	$46 MM
2009	$44 MM
2008	$42 MM
2007	$41 MM
2006	$40 MM
2005	$39 MM
2004	$39 MM
2003	$38 MM
2002	$34 MM
2001	$34 MM
2000	$34 MM
1999	$32 MM
1998	$30 MM
1997	$30 MM
1996	$29 MM
1995	$29 MM

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Revenue / Student

$15,982

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	$15,093
2022	$11,928
2021	$14,260
2020	$11,928
2019	$11,270
2018	$12,486
2017	$12,727
2016	$11,904
2015	$11,650
2014	$12,937
2012	$15,292
2011	$12,722
2010	$11,650
2009	$11,815
2008	$10,474
2007	$10,918
2006	$10,978
2005	$9,978
2004	$9,483
2003	$8,795
2002	$8,794
2001	$8,002
2000	$8,153
1999	$7,396
1998	$7,449
1997	$7,006
1995	$6,524
1992	$4,968

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Spending / Student

$15,156

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	West Virginia
2023	$14,257
2022	$11,354
2021	$13,470
2020	$11,354
2019	$11,128
2018	$11,778
2017	$12,263
2016	$11,931
2015	$12,559
2014	$12,334
2012	$13,297
2011	$13,780
2010	$12,559
2009	$11,723
2008	$11,119
2007	$10,885
2006	$10,809
2005	$10,444
2004	$10,067
2003	$9,692
2002	$8,729
2001	$8,510
2000	$8,271
1999	$7,692
1998	$7,111
1997	$6,955
1995	$6,604
1992	$4,902

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Best West Virginia 51��s by County (2026)

County

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Barbour County

2,083

Berkeley County

20,056

29%

3,109

1,684

2,338

11,072

17%

832

1,409

1,163

5,759

891

1,631

4,396

2,807

3,382

2,172

16%

Harrison County

9,687

Jackson County

4,037

Jefferson County

9,283

26%

Kanawha County

24,573

19%

2,216

2,707

4,696

7,531

11%

Marshall County

3,316

Mason County

3,632

Mcdowell County

2,444

12%

Mercer County

8,526

19%

Mineral County

3,988

Mingo County

3,551

Monongalia County

11,389

16%

1,542

2,028

3,380

5,692

15%

846

1,053

921

3,949

8,604

10,275

16%

3,591

1,159

1,693

1,213

2,164

942

1,194

3,601

6,560

1,118

2,024

1,432

16%

Wood County

11,291

Wyoming County

3,453

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in West Virginia?

The top-ranked public schools in West Virginia include Greenmont Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, and Sherman Elementary School.

How many public schools are located in West Virginia?

701 public schools are located in West Virginia.

What percentage of students in West Virginia go to public school?

95% of all K-12 students in West Virginia attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).

What is the racial composition of students in West Virginia?

Minority enrollment in West Virginia is 12%, with the majority being Black.

Which public schools in West Virginia are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of public schools in West Virginia include: New River Primary vs. Fayetteville Pk-8, Logan Senior High School vs. Chapmanville Regional High School, Straley Elementary School vs. Mercer Elementary School

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