What share of students in West Virginia are proficient in math?

In 2024, 18% of eighth graders in West Virginia public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 21% in reading, compared with 24% and 25% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in West Virginia, United States: official figures

91.2% of public high school students in West Virginia graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); the highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

91.2%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

206

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

261

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,640

FY2024

Public school enrollment

246,883

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

24.4%

2024

Is the graduation rate in West Virginia rising?

The four-year graduation rate in West Virginia was 91.2% in 2021-22, compared with 79% in 2011-12 and 91.3% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in West Virginia?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in West Virginia was 85.3% for economically disadvantaged students, 83.0% for students with disabilities and 81.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in West Virginia?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in West Virginia was 87.0% for Black, 86.0% for Hispanic and 91.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in West Virginia score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in West Virginia averaged 206 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 213 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 47% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in West Virginia score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in West Virginia averaged 247 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 256 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 21% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in West Virginia score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in West Virginia averaged 232 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC, up from 231 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 28% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in West Virginia score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in West Virginia averaged 261 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 272 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 18% scored at or above Proficient and 52% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does West Virginia spend per student?

Public school systems in West Virginia spent $15,640 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in West Virginia going up?

Current spending per pupil in West Virginia rose from $12,010 in fiscal 2019 to $15,640 in fiscal 2024, up 30.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does West Virginia spend school money on?

Of the $15,640 spent per pupil in West Virginia in fiscal 2024, $8,871 went on instruction and $5,780 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,675 per pupil and employee benefits $3,891.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in West Virginia come from?

Public school systems in West Virginia received $4.7 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 18.4% from the federal government, 46.0% from the state and 35.6% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does West Virginia spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in West Virginia was $4.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $3.9 billion was current spending and $544.33 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $502.82 million in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in West Virginia?

246,883 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in West Virginia in fall 2023, down 6.3% on fall 2019 (263,486) and down 12.1% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in West Virginia?

Public schools in West Virginia had 18,670 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.5 pupils per teacher, 17th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; West Virginia in fall 2019: 14.0).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in West Virginia have a college degree?

24.4% of adults aged 25 and over in West Virginia, about 309,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; the lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 0.3 percentage points on 2021 (24.1%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in West Virginia have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 9.6% of adults 25 and over in West Virginia had a graduate or professional degree and 8.4% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in West Virginia did not finish high school?

90.1% of adults 25 and over in West Virginia had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 9.9% without one; that share is 13th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How West Virginia compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

West Virginia ranks 1 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
1	West Virginia	91.2%
2	Tennessee	90.4%
3	Wisconsin	90.3%
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

West Virginia ranks 5 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
2	Kentucky	88.4%
3	Texas	86.4%
4	Arkansas	85.4%
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%
8	Tennessee	83.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

West Virginia ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
45	District of Columbia	209
46	Arizona	208
47	Oregon	207
48	Oklahoma	207
49	West Virginia	206
50	Alaska	202
51	New Mexico	201

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

West Virginia ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250
47	Oklahoma	249
48	Delaware	249
49	West Virginia	247
50	Alaska	246
51	New Mexico	245

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

West Virginia ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
43	Maine	233
44	Delaware	233
45	Arizona	232
46	West Virginia	232
47	District of Columbia	231
48	Arkansas	230
49	Oregon	229

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

West Virginia ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
45	Oklahoma	264
46	Alaska	264
47	Delaware	263
48	Alabama	262
49	District of Columbia	262
50	West Virginia	261
51	New Mexico	256

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

West Virginia ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
45	District of Columbia	20.1%
46	Arkansas	19.8%
47	Delaware	19.3%
48	Alabama	18.4%
49	West Virginia	17.8%
50	Oklahoma	17.4%
51	New Mexico	13.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

West Virginia ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
2	Alaska	52.6%
3	Oregon	48.3%
4	District of Columbia	48.0%
5	West Virginia	47.4%
6	Arizona	46.5%
7	Oklahoma	46.4%
8	Michigan	45.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

West Virginia ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
27	Wisconsin	$15,952
28	Colorado	$15,908
29	Georgia	$15,833
30	West Virginia	$15,640
31	Louisiana	$15,581
32	Kansas	$15,558
33	South Carolina	$15,060

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

West Virginia ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
33	Tennessee	+30.5%
34	Oklahoma	+30.5%
35	Kansas	+30.5%
36	West Virginia	+30.2%
37	Kentucky	+29.3%
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

West Virginia ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
30	Oregon	37.7%
31	Kentucky	37.0%
32	Wisconsin	36.0%
33	West Virginia	35.6%
34	California	35.0%
35	Arizona	34.7%
36	Indiana	32.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

West Virginia ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
32	Wisconsin	13.7
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5
36	Pennsylvania	13.3
37	Mississippi	13.0
38	Kansas	12.9

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

West Virginia ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%
47	New Hampshire	-6.1%
48	Oregon	-6.2%
49	Mississippi	-6.3%
50	West Virginia	-6.3%
51	Hawaii	-6.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

West Virginia ranks 51 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
45	Oklahoma	29.3%
46	Nevada	28.5%
47	Kentucky	27.9%
48	Louisiana	27.8%
49	Arkansas	27.1%
50	Mississippi	27.0%
51	West Virginia	24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

West Virginia ranks 13 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
10	Alabama	10.4%
11	Arizona	10.3%
12	Georgia	10.2%
13	West Virginia	9.9%
14	Oklahoma	9.8%
15	Florida	9.6%
16	New Jersey	9.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on West Virginia: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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