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 middle schools serving 1,027 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in West Virginia.
Public Middle Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 14% (versus the West Virginia public middle school average of 29%), and reading proficiency score of 28% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public middle school average of 11% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
11 Schools
199 Schools
# Students
2,312 Students
74,045 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
5,527 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
0.20
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
1%
2%
% Black
7%
4%
% White
88%
89%
% 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 Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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%

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

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

Quick Links