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

No. Use the McDowell 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 McDowell 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 McDowell County?

Start with the 10 listed public schools and 1 district entry, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

McDowell County Schools & Education

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

McDowell County, West Virginia

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

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

82.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

82.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,139

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,773

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 62/100

State Score Position

#55

of 55 counties by score

Education Data Brief: McDowell County

Measured School Summary

McDowell County faces educational challenges with a school score of 28/100 and a graduation rate of 82.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,139 per pupil, McDowell County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 54% below the West Virginia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 10.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read McDowell 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

10 public schools and 1 district 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

28/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #55 of 55 West Virginia counties with school score data.

Completion

82.0%

10.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,139

$634 below the state average

School coverage

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

McDowell County has 10 public schools across 1 district, 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 McDowell 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

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 10 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#55

of 55 West Virginia counties with school score data. The county score is 34 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 90% 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.

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

2,537 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 2Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 McDowell County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

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

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

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 McDowell 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.

Ten Schools Serving the McDowell Community

McDowell County operates 10 public schools, which include six elementary schools and two high schools. A single district manages the education of 2,537 students across this rural landscape.

A Consolidated Rural School District

McDowell County Schools serves as the sole educational provider for the area's 2,537 students. The district utilizes a traditional public school framework, as there are no charter schools currently operating in the county.

Small, Intimate Rural Learning Environments

Education here is almost exclusively rural, with nine out of ten schools located in rural settings. While Mount View High School enrolls 560 students, the average school size across the county remains small at 282 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in McDowell County

Reported Enrollment

2,537

9 schools reporting

School Districts

district

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary6

Middle1

High2

Other1

1 School District in McDowell County

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

10 schools

2,537 students enrolled

10 Public Schools in McDowell County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 10 of 10 matching schools

Public schools in McDowell County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
MOUNT VIEW HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	WELCH, 24801Rural: Fringe	6–12	High	560
RIVER VIEW HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	BRADSHAW, 24817Rural: Remote	9–12	High	408
SOUTHSIDE K-8	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	WAR, 24892Rural: Distant	PK–8	Primary	314
BRADSHAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	BRADSHAW, 24817Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	272
SANDY RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	AVONDALE, 24811Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	239
IAEGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	IAEGER, 24844Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	229
WELCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	WELCH, 24801Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	220
KIMBALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	KIMBALL, 24853Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	159
FALL RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	BIG SANDY, 24816Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	136
MCDOWELL CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER	Record	MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS	WELCH, 24801Town: Distant	—	Vocational	—

MOUNT VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

WELCH, 24801 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12High560 students

RIVER VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

BRADSHAW, 24817 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High408 students

SOUTHSIDE K-8

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

WAR, 24892 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary314 students

BRADSHAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

BRADSHAW, 24817 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary272 students

SANDY RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

AVONDALE, 24811 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle239 students

IAEGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

IAEGER, 24844 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary229 students

WELCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

WELCH, 24801 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary220 students

KIMBALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

KIMBALL, 24853 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary159 students

FALL RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

BIG SANDY, 24816 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary136 students

MCDOWELL CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

WELCH, 24801 / Town: Distant

RecordVocationalEnrollment not available

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,139

State avg $7,773

Compare Nearby Counties

Review McDowell 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 McDowell County?

McDowell County has a school score of 28/100, which is a lower 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 McDowell County?

The high school graduation rate in McDowell County is 82.0%, which is below 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 McDowell County spend per student?

McDowell County spends $7,139 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 McDowell County, West Virginia — FAQ

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

McDowell County operates 10 public schools, which include six elementary schools and two high schools. A single district manages the education of 2,537 students across this rural landscape.

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

What is the school experience like in McDowell County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Morgan County

West Virginia

+3 pts

31/100

School score

Lewis County

West Virginia

+5 pts

33/100

School score

Hampshire County

West Virginia

+7 pts

36/100

School score

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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