Mcdowell County Schools School District

30 Central Avenue
Welch, WV 24801
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 10 public schools serving 2,444 students in Mcdowell County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in West Virginia.
Public Schools in Mcdowell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 19% (versus the West Virginia public school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 41% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Black), which is equal to the West Virginia public school average of 12% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
10 Schools
702 Schools
# Students
2,444 Students
246,379 Students
# Teachers
181 Teachers
18,676 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

District Rank

Mcdowell County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 57 school districts in West Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80-84% has decreased from 83% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WV)
#55 out of 57 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Mcdowell County Schools  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
18%
32%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of West Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
27%
41%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of West Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
14%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of West Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
80-84%
91%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and public school graduation rate of West Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.22
0.22
# American Indian Students
1 Student
228 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
1 Student
1,682 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
1%
# Hispanic Students
13 Students
5,929 Students
% Hispanic Students
1%
2%
# Black Students
176 Students
10,433 Students
% Black Students
7%
4%
# White Students
2,158 Students
216,811 Students
% White Students
88%
88%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
143 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
95 Students
11,153 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
197
14,983
# Students in K Grade:
164
16,757
# Students in 1st Grade:
143
16,888
# Students in 2nd Grade:
176
17,420
# Students in 3rd Grade:
154
16,764
# Students in 4th Grade:
163
15,751
# Students in 5th Grade:
196
17,896
# Students in 6th Grade:
177
17,905
# Students in 7th Grade:
178
18,332
# Students in 8th Grade:
173
18,287
# Students in 9th Grade:
196
20,756
# Students in 10th Grade:
201
19,734
# Students in 11th Grade:
164
18,284
# Students in 12th Grade:
162
16,622
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,922 is higher than the state median of $15,963. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,162 is higher than the state median of $15,138. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
This School District
This State (WV)
Total Revenue
$44 MM
$3,933 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in West Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$42 MM
$3,730 MM
This chart displays total spending of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in West Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$17,922
$15,963
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Mcdowell County Schools  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in West Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$17,162
$15,138
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Mcdowell County Schools  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in West Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Fall River Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
13 Falcon Drive
Big Sandy, WV 24816
(304) 656-7665
Grades: PK-5
| 118 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Bradshaw Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
740 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-7700
Grades: PK-5
| 256 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Iaeger Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
182 Water Street
Iaeger, WV 24844
(304) 938-2227
Grades: PK-5
| 221 students
Rank: #44.
Kimball Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
28631 Coal Heritage Road
Kimball, WV 24853
(304) 585-7570
Grades: PK-5
| 169 students
Rank: #55.
River View High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
512 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-7480
Grades: 9-12
| 397 students
Rank: #66.
Welch Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1235 Stewart St
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-4645
Grades: PK-5
| 216 students
Rank: #77.
Southside K-8
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
13509 Rocket Boy Drive
War, WV 24892
(304) 875-2238
Grades: PK-8
| 293 students
Rank: #88.
Sandy River Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
36 Sandy River Way
Avondale, WV 24811
(304) 967-5364
Grades: 6-8
| 221 students
Rank: #99.
Mount View High School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
950 Mount View Rd
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-2939
Grades: 6-12
| 553 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mcdowell Career & Technology Center
Vocational School
1 Stadium Dr
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-3488
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District manages 10 public schools serving 2,444 students.
What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District is ranked #56 out of 57 school districts in West Virginia (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Mcdowell County Schools School District?
88% of Mcdowell County Schools School District students are White, 7% of students are Black, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is higher than the West Virginia state average of 13:1.
What is Mcdowell County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,162 is higher than the state median of $15,138. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 10 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,444 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 12%
  • : 80-84% (Btm 50% in WV)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WV Dept. of Education

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