West Virginia Schools & Education
Public school metrics and education data for all 55 counties.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataAvg Graduation Rate
92.8%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$7,773
Avg School Score
62/100
Total Schools
684
60 districts
State Overview
About Schools in West Virginia
This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.
High Graduation Rates Despite Lower Per-Pupil Spending
West Virginia’s 92.8% graduation rate impressively outpaces the national average of 87.0%. This success occurs despite a per-pupil investment of just $7,773, which remains significantly lower than the $13,000 national average.
A Performance Spectrum Across 55 Districts
Across 55 counties, school scores vary widely from a high of 70.0 in Doddridge to a low of 49.6 in McDowell. Graduation rates also show a stark 16-point gap, peaking at 98.0% in Harrison County while dipping to 82.0% in McDowell.
Top Counties Drive Statewide Academic Success
Doddridge County leads the state with a 70.0 score, supported by a state-high investment of $12,943 per student. Wetzel and Marshall counties follow closely, both maintaining graduation rates of at least 94.0% and school scores above 63.0.
State Score Context
How West Virginia Counties Are Distributed
55 of 55 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.
Scored county coverage
Counties with complete enough data for the composite score
100%
Higher measured signal
Score range 70-100
20
Midrange measured signal
Score range 40-69
30
Lower measured signal
Score range 0-39
5
Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.
Best school counties
Best Counties for Public School Research in West Virginia
For a first-pass answer to parent searches about where the best schools are in West Virginia, start with county-level evidence, then open individual school and district records. SchoolsByCounty ranks counties by public education signals, not by private opinions or paid school ratings.
Short answer for West Virginia
Doddridge County is the strongest county-level starting point in West Virginia by the current SchoolsByCounty score, with a measured school signal of 97/100. This is a county comparison signal, not a promise that every school in the county is the best fit for every family.
Ranking methodology
55 of 55 counties have enough federal education data for a county school score. The ranking favors counties with stronger available graduation-rate and school-finance signals, then asks parents to verify individual school fit locally. The table below should help parents choose what to compare next; it should not replace attendance-boundary checks, program eligibility, commute, services, or direct district confirmation.
State average per-pupil spending in this dataset: $7,773.
Top measured county school signals
Ranked by the county school score where enough federal data is available.
Ohio County
98.0%
Ohio County has the strongest reported county graduation-rate signal in West Virginia. Use this as a broad county context, then review individual high-school records.
Doddridge County
$12,943
Doddridge County reports the highest per-pupil spending among counties with available data. Higher spending is context, not a guarantee of student fit.
McDowell County
28/100
McDowell County has one of the lowest measured county school signals in West Virginia. Review missing data, district context, and individual school records before drawing conclusions.
District research
Compare West Virginia public school districts before narrowing by address
West Virginia has 60 public school district records and 684 school records in the NCES file. Use the district hub to sort large district systems by enrollment, school count, county context, and generated district-guide coverage.
All West Virginia Counties
| County | School Score |
|---|---|
Doddridge County
| 97/100 |
Marshall County
| 91/100 |
Pendleton County
| 89/100 |
Wetzel County
| 87/100 |
Ohio County
| 86/100 |
Harrison County
| 84/100 |
Monroe County
| 83/100 |
Gilmer County
| 82/100 |
Webster County
| 81/100 |
Brooke County
| 79/100 |
Tyler County
| 79/100 |
Clay County
| 78/100 |
Pleasants County
| 78/100 |
Marion County
| 77/100 |
Greenbrier County
| 76/100 |
Roane County
| 76/100 |
Braxton County
| 74/100 |
Calhoun County
| 74/100 |
Putnam County
| 73/100 |
Nicholas County
| 71/100 |
Mason County
| 70/100 |
Barbour County
| 67/100 |
Wyoming County
| 65/100 |
Mineral County
| 64/100 |
Monongalia County
| 64/100 |
Mercer County
| 61/100 |
Berkeley County
| 61/100 |
Randolph County
| 59/100 |
Mingo County
| 59/100 |
Lincoln County
| 59/100 |
Hancock County
| 58/100 |
Boone County
| 57/100 |
Upshur County
| 57/100 |
Cabell County
| 57/100 |
Hardy County
| 56/100 |
Pocahontas County
| 56/100 |
Jefferson County
| 55/100 |
Jackson County
| 53/100 |
Kanawha County
| 52/100 |
Summers County
| 52/100 |
Tucker County
| 52/100 |
Logan County
| 51/100 |
Taylor County
| 49/100 |
Fayette County
| 49/100 |
Grant County
| 47/100 |
Wirt County
| 46/100 |
Ritchie County
| 46/100 |
Wood County
| 43/100 |
Preston County
| 42/100 |
Raleigh County
| 41/100 |
Wayne County
| 39/100 |
Hampshire County
| 36/100 |
Lewis County
| 33/100 |
Morgan County
| 31/100 |
McDowell County
| 28/100 |
— = data not available for this county.
Compare county school profiles in West Virginia
Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions About West Virginia Schools
Which West Virginia counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in West Virginia?
What are the best school counties in West Virginia?
Which West Virginia county has the strongest measured school score?
What is the average graduation rate in West Virginia?
Which county in West Virginia has the lowest school score?
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.