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D−

McDowell County School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 10 towns

Serves Welch, Gary, War, Kimball, Iaeger, Northfork, Davy, Bradshaw, Keystone and Anawalt.

Welch’s School Grade D− better than 2% of West Virginia school districts

Students
2,312
Schools
9
Spent per student
$16,215
WV $15,637
Students per teacher
14:1
The gist

What stands out about McDowell County School District

  • Its letter, D−: results better than 2% of West Virginia districts
  • Math proficiency 14 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 14 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 11 pts below the state
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 14.6% since 2020–21
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

D−: better than 2% of the 56 West Virginia school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
D−
GraduationFour-year graduation well below the state, class of 2023
D−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
D−Welch 3,389Gary 681War 536Kimball 243Iaeger 239Northfork 202Davy 182Bradshaw 176Keystone 151Anawalt 146

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Welch. Grade by grade →

PK–5Welch Elementary SchoolThis district
6–12Mount View High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. WV

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency18%
State average 32.2% · 1,252 students tested
Reading / language arts27%
State average 41.3% · 1,253 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)80–84%
State average 92.6% · 190 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$16,215 per student · 4% above WV
Spending
Classroom instruction 47%Support & administration 46%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 20%State 47%Federal 33%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
2,706’20
2,622’21
2,537’22
2,444’23
2,312’24

Down 14.6% since 2020–21.

Students
White 88%Black 7%Two or more races 4%Hispanic <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

9 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with West Virginia’s other public schools.

Southside K-8
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · War
D−
266 students12:1
Bradshaw Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bradshaw
C−
214 students11:1
Iaeger Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Iaeger
D−
201 students13:1
Welch Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Welch
D−
189 students14:1
Kimball Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Kimball
D−
164 students12:1
Fall River Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Big Sandy
C
112 students12:1
Mount View High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Welch
D−
521 students16:1
Sandy River Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bradshaw
C
240 students17:1
River View High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bradshaw
D−
405 students19:1

Left off: 2 schools reporting no students for 2024–25.

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within West Virginia.