Are larger school districts better than smaller districts? In some sense, yes, they are better. Larger school districts offer more to students. They have more schools that give parents more options on where to send their kids. A smaller school district may have a few elementary schools and one high school, which limits where you can send your kids to school.
When it comes to West Virginia, the state known for rolling mountains, there are a lot of school districts that offer plenty of elementary and high schools. The key is finding the right fit that offers exceptional teachers and a positive learning culture. Looking at the seven largest school districts in West Virginia will help you see how many students are in these school districts, what the best schools are, and, ultimately, what your options are on where to send your kids to school.
Kanawha County Schools
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At the top of the list of largest school districts in West Virginia is Kanawha County Schools, which has 68 schools with around 24,000 students. This district is ranked no. 3 out of the 55 school districts in West Virginia for diversity. It's also ranked no. 9 for best school districts for athletes.
Holz Elementary School, Kenna Elementary School, and George Washington High School are some of the best schools in this school district.
Here are some of the schools that are in this school district.
- 46 elementary schools
- 13 middle schools
- 9 high schools
Berkeley County Schools
Berkeley County Schools is next on the list of largest school districts, with 32 schools and roughly 19,000 students. The average student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1. According to Niche.com, this school district ranks no. 1 for being the most diverse.
Here's how the 32 schools are divided.
- 28 elementary and middle schools
- 4 high schools
Wood County Schools
Wood County Schools is a slightly smaller school district, with only 27 schools and 11,000 students. Although it's smaller, it's considered one of the best school districts in West Virginia. In fact, it's considered in the top 5% of public schools in West Virginia.
These are the schools that populate Wood County Schools.
- 17 elementary and junior high schools
- 3 high schools
Cabell County Schools
Pawtucket School District has 26 schools and serves a little over 11,000 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, this school district is known for its athletics. It has several schools that have Best School Districts for Athletes in West Virginia.
These are the total number of schools that comprise the Cabell County Schools.
- 24 elementary schools
- 2 high schools
Monongalia County Schools
Monongalia County Schools has a total of 18 schools and 11,000 students. This school district is no. 1 in West Virginia, based on test scores. It's also a district known to have the best teachers in the state. This could also be because Monongalia County Schools is one of the best teaching places. This school district is one of the most attractive workplaces with thriving students and happy teachers.
These are the schools in this school district.
- 15 elementary and middle schools
- 3 high schools
Raleigh County Schools
Raleigh County Schools has 27 schools with around 10,000 students. This district has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1. While this school isn't at the top of the rankings among districts, it does have some schools that stand out. For instance, Hollywood Elementary School is one of the best schools for reading and math comprehension.
Here are the elementary and high schools in this school district.
- 23 elementary schools
- 4 high schools
Harrison County Schools
Harrison County Schools is the last largest school district on this list, with 27 schools and 9,900 students. While this school isn't at the top of the list of best school districts when measured by test scores, it's also not at the bottom. It has some great athletic programs and some of the best teachers in West Virginia. Johnson Elementary is an example of one of the best lower education schools in West Virginia.
Here are some of the schools that are part of this school district.
- 21 elementary schools
- 6 high schools
Is There a Perfect School District?
While there's no perfect school district or school in West Virginia, there are plenty of options to choose from. The school districts on this list show parents what's available based on their city. It shows what some of the best-ranked districts are and what they rank in.
Overall, the largest school districts show how many schools are in certain counties. It gives parents more choices to help them decide where to send their kids to school.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Littlekidmoment/Shutterstock.com.