Mercer County Schools

1403 Honaker Avenue
Princeton, WV 24740-3065
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
6/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Mercer County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in West Virginia for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 10 public preschools serving 2,238 students in Mercer County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in West Virginia.
Public Preschools in Mercer County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the West Virginia public pre school average of 44%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 41% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the West Virginia public preschool average of 12% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (WV)
# Schools
27 Schools
371 Schools
# Students
8,310 Students
104,425 Students
# Teachers
610 Teachers
8,098 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Mercer County Schools, which is ranked within the top 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 87% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WV)
#26 out of 57 school districts
(Top 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

33%
34%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

39%
41%
25%
28%
87%
92.6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
34.2%
33.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.34
0.22

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%

Showing 1994–2012. Full 20-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
1%
2%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
9%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

% White
81%
88%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,102 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,559. The school district revenue/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,970 is less than the state median of $17,118. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
This School District
This State (WV)
Total Revenue
$142 MM
$4,251 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$133 MM
$4,144 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$17,102
$17,559

Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$15,970
$17,118

Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Mercer County Schools Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Athens Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
205 S State Street
Athens, WV 24712
(304) 384-9229
Gr: PK-5 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Oakvale School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2503 Goodwins Chapel Rd
Princeton, WV 24739
(304) 898-2541
Gr: PK-5 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Lashmeet/matoaka Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5709 Matoaka Rd
Matoaka, WV 24736
(304) 467-8282
Gr: PK-5 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Spanishburg
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
8544 Beckley Road
Spanishburg, WV 25922
(304) 425-5854
Gr: PK-5 | 159 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #55.
Bluewell Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
205 Bluewell School Rd
Bluefield, WV 24701
(304) 589-5057
Gr: PK-5 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #66.
Sun Valley Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5281 Hinton Road
Lerona, WV 25971
(304) 384-7441
Gr: PK-5 | 117 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #77.
Montcalm Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
838 Rock Rd
Rock, WV 24747
(304) 589-5202
Gr: PK-6 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #88.
Mountain Valley Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
977 Blue Prince Rd
Bluefield, WV 24701
(304) 324-7316
Gr: PK-5 | 273 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: n/an/a
673 West Cumberland Road
Bluefield, WV 24701
(304) 327-6217
Gr: PK-2 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
731 Cove Street
Princeton, WV 24740
(304) 425-4251
Gr: PK | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 37:1 Minority enrollment: 29%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 27 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 8,310 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 19%
  • : 87% (Btm 50% in WV)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 33% (Top 50%)
  • : 39% (Top 50%)
  • : 25% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WV Dept. of Education

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