Mcdowell County Schools

30 Central Avenue
Welch, WV 24801
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 926 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in West Virginia.
Public High Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 11% (versus the West Virginia public high school average of 21%), and reading proficiency score of 30% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Public High School in Mcdowell County School have a Graduation Rate of 85%, which is less than the West Virginia average of 92%.
The school with highest graduation rate is River View High School, with 85-89% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in West Virginia or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public high school average of 12% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
11 Schools
164 Schools
# Students
2,312 Students
79,834 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
5,636 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

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.
This School District
State Average (WV)
#54 out of 57 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
19%
34%
27%
41%
14%
28%
85%
91%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.22
0.22
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
1%
3%
% Black
7%
4%
% White
88%
88%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
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.
This School District
This State (WV)
Total Revenue
$44 MM
$3,933 MM
Spending
$42 MM
$3,730 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,945
$16,208
Spending / Student
$18,142
$15,371

Best Mcdowell County Schools Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
River View High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
512 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-7480
Gr: 9-12 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #22.
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%
Rank: n/an/a
Mcdowell Career & Technology Center
Vocational School
1 Stadium Drive
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-3488
Gr: 9-12

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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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