For the 2026 school year, there are 29 public schools serving 12,227 students in Charleston, WV (there are 8 private schools, serving 1,595 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Charleston, WV are educated in public schools (compared to the WV state average of 95%).
The top-ranked public schools in Charleston, WV are Holz Elementary School, Kenna Elementary School and Overbrook Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Charleston, WV public schools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the West Virginia public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 42% statewide average). Schools in Charleston have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of West Virginia public schools.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public school average of 13% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Charleston, WV (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Holz Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1505 Hampton Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-1906
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-1906
Gr: PK-5 | 304 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Kenna Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
198 Eureka Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6104
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6104
Gr: PK-5 | 180 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #33.
Overbrook Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
218 Oakwood Road
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6179
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6179
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #44.
John Adams Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2002 Presidential Dr
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6652
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-6652
Gr: 6-8 | 740 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
George Washington High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1522 Tennis Club Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-7729
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 348-7729
Gr: 9-12 | 1,145 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #66.
Cross Lanes Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5525 Big Tyler Rd
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-2022
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-2022
Gr: PK-5 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #77.
Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 Dutch Rd
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-1900
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-1900
Gr: PK-5 | 191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #88.
Chesapeake Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
13620 Maccorkle Ave
Charleston, WV 25315
(304) 949-1121
Charleston, WV 25315
(304) 949-1121
Gr: PK-5 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #99.
Andrew Jackson Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5445 Big Tyler Rd
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-3310
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-3310
Gr: 6-8 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #10 - 1210. - 12.
Chamberlain Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4901 Venable Ave
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1969
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1969
Gr: PK-5 | 225 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #10 - 1210. - 12.
Flinn Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2006 Mcclure Pkwy
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1960
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1960
Gr: PK-4 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #10 - 1210. - 12.
Kanawha City Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3601 Staunton Ave Se
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1985
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1985
Gr: PK-5 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1313.
Elk Elementary Center
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3320 Pennsylvania Ave
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-7776
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-7776
Gr: PK-5 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1414.
Sissonville High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6100 Sissonville Dr
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1954
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1954
Gr: 9-12 | 564 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1515.
Capital High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Greenbrier St
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 348-6500
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 348-6500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,051 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1616.
Horace Mann Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4300 Maccorkle Ave Se
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1971
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 348-1971
Gr: 6-8 | 385 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1717.
Point Harmony Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5312 Big Tyler Rd
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-3482
Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-3482
Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1818.
Sissonville Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
100 Middle School Ln
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1993
Charleston, WV 25312
(304) 348-1993
Gr: 5-8 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #1919.
Ruffner Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
809 Litz Dr
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 348-1130
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 348-1130
Gr: PK-5 | 271 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2020.
Malden Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4001 Salines Dr
Charleston, WV 25306
(304) 348-1973
Charleston, WV 25306
(304) 348-1973
Gr: PK-5 | 160 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2121.
Sissonville Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8324 Sissonville Dr
Charleston, WV 25320
(304) 348-1961
Charleston, WV 25320
(304) 348-1961
Gr: PK-4 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 1%
Rank: #2222.
Edgewood Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
550 Hawks Rdg
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-6631
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-6631
Gr: PK-5 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2323.
Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
100 Florida St
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-1902
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-1902
Gr: PK-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2424.
Piedmont Year-round Education
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
203 Bradford St
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-1910
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-1910
Gr: PK-5 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2525.
Kcs Alternative Learning
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1900 School St
Charleston, WV 25387
(304) 348-6133
Charleston, WV 25387
(304) 348-6133
Gr: K-12 | 134 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2626.
West Side Middle School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
812 Park Ave
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-6123
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 348-6123
Gr: 6-8 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: n/an/a
Carver Career Center
Vocational School
4799 Midland Dr
Charleston, WV 25306
(304) 348-1965
Charleston, WV 25306
(304) 348-1965
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
959 Woodward Dr
Charleston, WV 25387
(304) 348-1928
Charleston, WV 25387
(304) 348-1928
Gr: PK | 18 students Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: n/an/a
West Virginia Virtual Academy
Charter School
3508 Staunton Ave 3rd Floor
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 807-9370
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 807-9370
Gr: K-12 | 1,654 student Minority enrollment: 15%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Charleston, WV?
The top-ranked public schools in Charleston, WV include Holz Elementary School, Kenna Elementary School and Overbrook Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Charleston?
29 public schools are located in Charleston.
What percentage of students in Charleston go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Charleston are educated in public schools (compared to the WV state average of 95%).
What is the racial composition of students in Charleston?
Charleston public schools minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public schools average of 13% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Charleston are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Charleston include: Cross Lanes Elementary School vs. Point Harmony Elementary School, Shoals Elementary School vs. Elk Elementary Center, Point Harmony Elementary School vs. Cross Lanes Elementary School
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