Mcdowell County Schools School District

30 Central Avenue
Welch, WV 24801
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 2,047 students in Mcdowell County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in West Virginia.
Public Elementary Schools in Mcdowell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the West Virginia public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public elementary school average of 12% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
10 Schools
546 Schools
# Students
2,444 Students
172,050 Students
# Teachers
181 Teachers
13,281 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

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 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%
2%
% Black
7%
4%
% White
88%
88%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

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
Spending
$42 MM
$3,730 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,922
$15,963
Spending / Student
$17,162
$15,138

Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Fall River Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
13 Falcon Drive
Big Sandy, WV 24816
(304) 656-7665
Gr: PK-5 | 118 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #22.
Welch Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1235 Stewart St
Welch, WV 24801
(304) 436-4645
Gr: PK-5 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Bradshaw Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
740 Mountaineer Highway
Bradshaw, WV 24817
(304) 967-7700
Gr: PK-5 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Iaeger Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
182 Water Street
Iaeger, WV 24844
(304) 938-2227
Gr: PK-5 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Kimball Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
28631 Coal Heritage Road
Kimball, WV 24853
(304) 585-7570
Gr: PK-5 | 169 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #66.
Southside K-8
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
13509 Rocket Boy Drive
War, WV 24892
(304) 875-2238
Gr: PK-8 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #77.
Sandy River Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
36 Sandy River Way
Avondale, WV 24811
(304) 967-5364
Gr: 6-8 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Rank: #88.
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 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 10 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,444 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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