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Mcdowell County Schools

Item: Mcdowell County Schools
Rating: 1
Author: Public School Review

30 Central Avenue
Welch, WV 24801

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (304) 436-8441

For the 2026 school year, there are 11 public schools serving 2,312 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in West Virginia.

Public Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an score of 19% (versus the West Virginia public school average of 34%), and score of 27% (versus the 42% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the West Virginia public school average of 13% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District

This State (WV)

# Schools

11 Schools

684 Schools

# Students

2,312 Students

242,650 Students

# Teachers

171 Teachers

18,121 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
Pre-K	166	231
Kind	142	256
1	161	257
2	135	261
3	170	273
4	146	265
5	152	248
6	190	281
7	174	280
8	176	285
9	191	306
10	181	297
11	164	280
12	164	273

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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.

This School District

State Average (WV)

#54 out of 57 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Mcdowell 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%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2023	19%	34%
2022	18%	32%
2021	14%	28%
2019	22%	38%
2018	23%	37%
2017	21%	35%
2016	19%	33%
2015	15%	30%
2014	26%	42%
2013	30%	46%
2012	36%	48%

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27%

41%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2022	27%	41%
2021	28%	40%
2018	23%	45%
2017	34%	47%
2015	32%	46%
2014	31%	47%
2013	32%	48%
2012	32%	49%
2011	33%	48%
2010	25%	42%

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14%

28%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2022	14%	28%
2021	15%	27%

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85%

91%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2023	85%	91%
2022	82%	91%
2021	88%	90%
2020	82%	90%
2019	87%	90%
2018	92%	89%
2017	83%	89%
2016	88%	89%
2015	80%	86%
2014	75%	84%
2013	79%	81%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.22

0.23

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2024	0.24	0.22
2023	0.23	0.21
2022	0.24	0.21
2021	0.23	0.21
2020	0.23	0.19
2019	0.23	0.19
2018	0.23	0.19
2017	0.23	0.19
2016	0.23	0.19
2015	0.23	0.19
2014	0.22	0.17
2013	0.22	0.17
2012	0.21	0.15
2011	0.21	0.15
2010	0.21	0.15
2009	0.21	0.13
2008	0.21	0.13
2007	0.21	0.13
2006	0.21	0.12
2005	0.22	0.12
2004	0.23	0.12
2003	0.23	0.12
2002	0.23	0.10
2001	0.25	0.10
2000	0.24	0.08
1999	0.26	0.07
1998	0.25	0.07
1997	0.25	0.07
1996	0.26	0.08
1995	0.26	0.08
1994	0.28	0.08

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

n/a

% Hispanic

% Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2024	12%	4%
2023	11%	4%
2022	11%	4%
2021	11%	4%
2020	11%	4%
2019	11%	4%
2018	12%	4%
2017	12%	4%
2016	12%	4%
2015	12%	5%
2014	11%	5%
2013	11%	5%
2012	11%	5%
2011	12%	5%
2010	12%	5%
2009	12%	5%
2008	12%	5%
2007	12%	5%
2006	12%	4%
2005	12%	5%
2004	13%	5%
2003	13%	4%
2002	13%	4%
2001	14%	4%
2000	14%	3%
1999	15%	4%
1998	15%	4%
1997	15%	4%
1996	15%	4%
1995	15%	4%
1994	16%	4%

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% White

88%

87%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2024	86%	88%
2023	87%	89%
2022	87%	89%
2021	87%	89%
2020	87%	90%
2019	87%	90%
2018	87%	90%
2017	87%	90%
2016	87%	90%
2015	87%	90%
2014	88%	91%
2013	88%	91%
2012	88%	92%
2011	88%	92%
2010	88%	92%
2009	88%	93%
2008	88%	93%
2007	88%	93%
2006	88%	94%
2005	88%	93%
2004	87%	93%
2003	87%	94%
2002	87%	95%
2001	86%	95%
2000	86%	96%
1999	85%	96%
1998	85%	96%
1997	85%	96%
1996	85%	96%
1995	85%	96%
1994	84%	96%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2014-2024)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West Virginia
2024	2%	5%
2023	2%	4%
2022	2%	4%
2021	2%	4%
2020	2%	3%
2019	2%	3%
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	2%
2014	1%	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.

This School District

This State (WV)

Total Revenue

$44 MM

$3,933 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West 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

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West 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

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West 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

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	West 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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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools?

Mcdowell County Schools manages 11 public schools serving 2,312 students.

What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools?

Mcdowell County Schools is ranked #54 out of 56 school districts in West Virginia (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.

What is the racial composition of students in Mcdowell County Schools?

88% of Mcdowell County Schools 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?

Mcdowell County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the West Virginia state average of 14:1.

What is Mcdowell County Schools's spending/student ratio?

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.

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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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