Can I use Kanawha County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Kanawha County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Kanawha County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Kanawha County?

Start with the 68 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Kanawha County Schools & Education

Name: Kanawha County, West Virginia Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Kanawha County, West Virginia

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,092

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,773

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 62/100

State Score Position

#39

of 55 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Kanawha County

Measured School Summary

Kanawha County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.0%.

Funding Context

Kanawha County spends $8,092 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 16% below the West Virginia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Kanawha County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

68 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

52/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #39 of 55 West Virginia counties with school score data.

Completion

88.0%

4.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,092

$319 above the state average

School coverage

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Kanawha County has 68 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Kanawha County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 67 of 68 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#39

of 55 West Virginia counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 96% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

23,864 students

Elementary 42Middle 12High 8Other 5

67 listed schools in this county slice.

West Virginia Virtual Academy

Other grade structure

398 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 67 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Kanawha County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kanawha County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Kanawha County, West Virginia

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

West Virginia's Largest Educational Infrastructure

Kanawha County operates a massive network of 68 public schools, including 42 elementary, 12 middle, and 8 high schools. This system serves 24,262 students, making it the most significant school population in the state.

Strong Funding Supporting Diverse Student Needs

The county spends $8,092 per pupil, which exceeds the state average of $7,773 to support its broad campus network. While the 88.0% graduation rate is lower than the state average, it remains above the national benchmark of 87.0%.

Major District Management and Virtual Options

Kanawha County Schools oversees 67 schools and nearly 24,000 students, while the West Virginia Virtual Academy offers a charter alternative for 398 students. This dual-district landscape provides families with both traditional brick-and-mortar and digital learning pathways.

A Suburban Powerhouse with City Schools

With 43 suburban and 18 city schools, the county offers a distinctly more developed feel than its neighbors. Large regional high schools like Riverside and George Washington each serve over 1,100 students, creating a bustling, diverse campus atmosphere.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Kanawha County

Reported Enrollment

24,262

65 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

1% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary42

Middle12

High8

Other6

2 School Districts in Kanawha County

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

West Virginia Virtual Academy

1 school

398 students

68 Public Schools in Kanawha County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 68 matching schools

Public schools in Kanawha County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	BELLE, 25015Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,220
GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25314City: Small	9–12	High	1,195
CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25311Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,086
SAINT ALBANS HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	ST. ALBANS, 25177Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	993
SOUTH CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	SOUTH CHARLESTON, 25309Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	952
NITRO HIGH SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	NITRO, 25143Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	827
HERBERT HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	ELKVIEW, 25071Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	789
JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25314City: Small	6–8	Middle	705
ELKVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	ELKVIEW, 25071Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	613
SISSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25312Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	563
SISSONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25312Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	541
ANDREW JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25313Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	512
ELK ELEMENTARY CENTER	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25302Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	491
POINT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CROSS LANES, 25313Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	487
FLINN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25312Town: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	439
HAYES MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	ST. ALBANS, 25177Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	436
DU PONT MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	BELLE, 25015Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	423
BRIDGEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	SOUTH CHARLESTON, 25309Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	421
HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS	CHARLESTON, 25304City: Small	6–8	Middle	399
West Virginia Virtual Academy	Record	West Virginia Virtual Academy	Charleston, 25339City: Small	KG–10	Charter	398

RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

BELLE, 25015 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,220 students

GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25314 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,195 students

CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25311 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,086 students

SAINT ALBANS HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

ST. ALBANS, 25177 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High993 students

SOUTH CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

SOUTH CHARLESTON, 25309 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High952 students

NITRO HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

NITRO, 25143 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High827 students

HERBERT HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

ELKVIEW, 25071 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High789 students

JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25314 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle705 students

ELKVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

ELKVIEW, 25071 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle613 students

SISSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25312 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High563 students

SISSONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25312 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle541 students

ANDREW JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25313 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle512 students

ELK ELEMENTARY CENTER

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25302 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary491 students

POINT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CROSS LANES, 25313 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary487 students

FLINN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25312 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary439 students

HAYES MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

ST. ALBANS, 25177 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle436 students

DU PONT MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

BELLE, 25015 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle423 students

BRIDGEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

SOUTH CHARLESTON, 25309 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary421 students

HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS

CHARLESTON, 25304 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle399 students

West Virginia Virtual Academy

Charleston, 25339 / City: Small

RecordKG–10Charter398 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,092

State avg $7,773

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Kanawha County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which West Virginia counties have the highest graduation rates?

Harrison County (98.0%), Ohio County (98.0%), and Putnam County (98.0%) currently lead West Virginia among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in West Virginia?

Across West Virginia counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,773. The highest current county values are Doddridge County ($12,943), Wetzel County ($11,343), and Tyler County ($10,519). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Kanawha County?

Kanawha County has a school score of 52/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Kanawha County?

The high school graduation rate in Kanawha County is 88.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Kanawha County spend per student?

Kanawha County spends $8,092 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Kanawha County, West Virginia — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Kanawha County, West Virginia?

How do schools in Kanawha County perform academically?

What are the major school districts in Kanawha County, West Virginia?

What is the school experience like in Kanawha County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

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By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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