West Virginia, known for its mining and logging industries, thick forests and dazzling karst formations, also has some educational achievements to its credit: The Mountain State ranks 18th in the nation in high school graduation rate, according to U.S. News & World Report. Unlike many states, all of West Virginia’s public school districts are divided exactly by the counties in which they are based.

Putnam County Schools is West Virginia’s best public school district. Putnam County stands tall among all of the state’s school systems, with numerous achievements under its belt, including being number one in the state in school attendance, and outperforming state averages in all standardized tests.

At #2 is Monongalia County Schools, comprising 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving its namesake county. Recognizing its excellence, U.S. News honored Morgantown High School with a silver medal, naming it the best high school in the state.

Placing third is Ohio County Schools, administering 13 schools in Ohio County, WV. As an indication of the district’s quality, Niche.com named it both the best place to teach in West Virginia, as well as the district with the best teachers in the state.

Closing out the list of West Virginia’s top five public school districts is Jefferson County Public Schools (#4), serving the state’s easternmost county, and Harrison County Schools (#5), one of the larger districts in the state with 25 schools.

Top School Districts in West Virginia, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Putnam County SchoolsWest Virginia
2Monongalia County SchoolsWest Virginia
3Ohio County SchoolsWest Virginia
4Jefferson County SchoolsWest Virginia
5Harrison County SchoolsWest Virginia
6Marion County SchoolsWest Virginia
7Hancock County SchoolsWest Virginia
8Berkeley County SchoolsWest Virginia
9Kanawha County SchoolsWest Virginia
10Gilmer County SchoolsWest Virginia
11Jackson County SchoolsWest Virginia
12Greenbrier County SchoolsWest Virginia
13Tyler County SchoolsWest Virginia
14Nicholas County SchoolsWest Virginia
15Raleigh County SchoolsWest Virginia
16Wood County SchoolsWest Virginia
17Taylor County SchoolsWest Virginia
18Brooke County SchoolsWest Virginia
19Cabell County SchoolsWest Virginia
20Mercer County SchoolsWest Virginia
21Pendleton County SchoolsWest Virginia
22Pocahontas County SchoolsWest Virginia
23Monroe County SchoolsWest Virginia
24Doddridge County SchoolsWest Virginia
25Preston County SchoolsWest Virginia
26Mason County SchoolsWest Virginia
27Wyoming County SchoolsWest Virginia
28Clay County SchoolsWest Virginia
29Wayne County SchoolsWest Virginia
30Pleasants County SchoolsWest Virginia
31Hampshire County SchoolsWest Virginia
32Randolph County SchoolsWest Virginia
33Boone County SchoolsWest Virginia
34Morgan County SchoolsWest Virginia
35Marshall County SchoolsWest Virginia
36Upshur County SchoolsWest Virginia
37Mineral County SchoolsWest Virginia
38Hardy County SchoolsWest Virginia
39Braxton County SchoolsWest Virginia
40Lewis County SchoolsWest Virginia
41Grant County SchoolsWest Virginia
42Ritchie County SchoolsWest Virginia
43Summers County SchoolsWest Virginia
44Mingo County SchoolsWest Virginia
45Wetzel County SchoolsWest Virginia
46Logan County SchoolsWest Virginia
47Wirt County SchoolsWest Virginia
48Lincoln County SchoolsWest Virginia
49Roane County SchoolsWest Virginia
50Barbour County SchoolsWest Virginia
51Fayette County SchoolsWest Virginia
52Webster County SchoolsWest Virginia
53Tucker County SchoolsWest Virginia
54Calhoun County SchoolsWest Virginia
55Mcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

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