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Public School Review - Established 2003

Mcdowell County Schools

30 Central Avenue
Welch, WV 24801
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (304) 436-8441
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 1,907 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in West Virginia.
Public Elementary Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the West Virginia public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public elementary school average of 13% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
11 Schools
544 Schools
# Students
2,312 Students
171,536 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
12,850 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
Pre-K166218
Kind142251
1161257
2135261
3170273
4146265
5152248
6190281
7174270
8176275
97721
107922
117821
126118
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District Rank

Mcdowell County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 56 school districts in West Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (WV)
#54 out of 57 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearMcdowell County Schools
2023#54
2022#55
2021#55
2019#55
2018#53
2017#55
2016#55
2015#55
2014#55
2013#55
2012#55
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19%
34%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202319%34%
202218%32%
202114%28%
201922%38%
201823%37%
201721%35%
201619%33%
201515%30%
201426%42%
201330%46%
201236%48%
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27%
41%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202227%41%
202128%40%
201823%45%
201734%47%
201532%46%
201431%47%
201332%48%
201232%49%
201133%48%
201025%42%
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14%
28%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202214%28%
202115%27%
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85%
91%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202385%91%
202282%91%
202188%90%
202082%90%
201987%90%
201892%89%
201783%89%
201688%89%
201580%86%
201475%84%
201379%81%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.22
0.23

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
20240.240.22
20230.230.21
20220.240.21
20210.230.21
20200.230.19
20190.230.19
20180.230.19
20170.230.19
20160.230.19
20150.230.19
20140.220.17
20130.220.17
20120.210.15
20110.210.15
20100.210.15
20090.210.13
20080.210.13
20070.210.13
20060.210.12
20050.220.12
20040.230.12
20030.230.12
20020.230.10
20010.250.10
20000.240.08
19990.260.07
19980.250.07
19970.250.07
19960.260.08
19950.260.08
19940.280.08
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
1%
3%
% Black
7%
4%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202412%4%
202311%4%
202211%4%
202111%4%
202011%4%
201911%4%
201812%4%
201712%4%
201612%4%
201512%5%
201411%5%
201311%5%
201211%5%
201112%5%
201012%5%
200912%5%
200812%5%
200712%5%
200612%4%
200512%5%
200413%5%
200313%4%
200213%4%
200114%4%
200014%3%
199915%4%
199815%4%
199715%4%
199615%4%
199515%4%
199416%4%
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% White
88%
87%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
202486%88%
202387%89%
202287%89%
202187%89%
202087%90%
201987%90%
201887%90%
201787%90%
201687%90%
201587%90%
201488%91%
201388%91%
201288%92%
201188%92%
201088%92%
200988%93%
200888%93%
200788%93%
200688%94%
200588%93%
200487%93%
200387%94%
200287%95%
200186%95%
200086%96%
199985%96%
199885%96%
199785%96%
199685%96%
199585%96%
199484%96%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2014-2024)

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
20242%5%
20232%4%
20222%4%
20212%4%
20202%3%
20192%3%
20181%3%
20171%3%
20161%3%
20151%2%
20141%2%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,945 is higher than the state median of $16,208. The school district revenue/student has grown by 26% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,142 is higher than the state median of $15,371. The school district spending/student has grown by 27% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (WV)
Total Revenue
$44 MM
$3,933 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
2023$44 MM$44 MM
2022$43 MM$43 MM
2021$44 MM$44 MM
2020$43 MM$43 MM
2019$42 MM$42 MM
2018$44 MM$44 MM
2017$45 MM$45 MM
2016$51 MM$43 MM
2015$67 MM$43 MM
2014$50 MM$48 MM
2012$57 MM$55 MM
2011$89 MM$47 MM
2010$67 MM$43 MM
2009$47 MM$44 MM
2008$60 MM$40 MM
2007$44 MM$42 MM
2006$44 MM$41 MM
2005$43 MM$38 MM
2004$43 MM$36 MM
2003$46 MM$34 MM
2002$43 MM$34 MM
2001$42 MM$32 MM
2000$43 MM$33 MM
1999$45 MM$30 MM
1998$43 MM$32 MM
1997$41 MM$30 MM
1996$41 MM$30 MM
1995$42 MM$29 MM
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Spending
$42 MM
$3,730 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
2023$42 MM$42 MM
2022$41 MM$41 MM
2021$42 MM$42 MM
2020$41 MM$41 MM
2019$42 MM$42 MM
2018$41 MM$42 MM
2017$43 MM$43 MM
2016$52 MM$43 MM
2015$68 MM$46 MM
2014$49 MM$46 MM
2012$55 MM$48 MM
2011$92 MM$51 MM
2010$68 MM$46 MM
2009$44 MM$44 MM
2008$57 MM$42 MM
2007$43 MM$41 MM
2006$46 MM$40 MM
2005$47 MM$39 MM
2004$46 MM$39 MM
2003$47 MM$38 MM
2002$47 MM$34 MM
2001$43 MM$34 MM
2000$43 MM$34 MM
1999$45 MM$32 MM
1998$42 MM$30 MM
1997$40 MM$30 MM
1996$41 MM$29 MM
1995$43 MM$29 MM
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Revenue / Student
$18,945
$16,208

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
2023$17,265$15,093
2022$14,941$11,928
2021$16,187$14,260
2020$14,941$11,928
2018$14,203$12,486
2017$14,079$12,727
2016$15,430$11,904
2015$19,671$11,650
2014$14,522$12,937
2012$16,139$15,292
2011$24,883$12,722
2010$18,295$11,650
2009$12,689$11,815
2008$15,806$10,474
2007$11,101$10,918
2006$11,075$10,978
2005$10,445$9,978
2004$10,154$9,483
2003$10,397$8,795
2002$9,378$8,794
2001$8,610$8,002
2000$8,528$8,153
1999$8,405$7,396
1998$7,600$7,449
1997$6,676$7,006
1995$6,363$6,524
1992$4,922$4,968
1990$3,597$3,761
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Spending / Student
$18,142
$15,371

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearMcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia
2023$16,533$14,257
2022$14,223$11,354
2021$15,501$13,470
2020$14,223$11,354
2018$13,172$11,778
2017$13,566$12,263
2016$15,735$11,931
2015$19,944$12,559
2014$14,381$12,334
2012$15,570$13,297
2011$25,779$13,780
2010$18,549$12,559
2009$11,889$11,723
2008$15,204$11,119
2007$10,833$10,885
2006$11,602$10,809
2005$11,313$10,444
2004$10,865$10,067
2003$10,426$9,692
2002$10,144$8,729
2001$8,976$8,510
2000$8,534$8,271
1999$8,359$7,692
1998$7,273$7,111
1997$6,613$6,955
1995$6,467$6,604
1992$4,985$4,902
1990$3,600$3,706
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Best Mcdowell County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Fall River Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
13 Falcon Drive
Big Sandy, WV 24816
(304) 656-7665
Gr: PK-5 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
Welch Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1235 Stewart St
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-4645
Gr: PK-5 | 189 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #33.
Bradshaw Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
660 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-7700
Gr: PK-5 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Iaeger Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
182 Water Street
Iaeger, WV 24844
(304) 938-2227
Gr: PK-5 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 1%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Kimball Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
28631 Coal Heritage Road
Kimball, WV 24853
(304) 585-7570
Gr: PK-5 | 164 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #66.
Southside K-8
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
13509 Rocket Boy Drive
War, WV 24892
(304) 875-2283
Gr: PK-8 | 266 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #77.
Sandy River Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
446 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-5364
Gr: 6-8 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Rank: #88.
Mount View High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
950 Mount View Rd
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-2939
Gr: 6-12 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,312 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 12%
  • : 85% (Btm 50% in WV)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WV Dept. of Education

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