Best School Districts in the State? Or are They Just Well-funded?

Funding is essential to the operation and performance of public schools. Without adequate funding and resources, public schools are forced to maximize the limited amount that they do have. This often results in staffing cuts, programming cuts, and school closures and consolidations to keep the district operational.

The current approach to school funding in West Virginia relies heavily on local funding which lends itself to funding disparities that leave certain school districts, particularly those with concentrated poverty and in rural or isolated areas, without the necessary funding or resources to support their students and community at large. There have been more than 50 school closures in the past five years and nearly 25 more approved this year, all spread across less than 20 school districts.

Niche, a company that reviews K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and places to live in the United States, recently released their 2025 ranking of the best school districts. Of the public school districts in West Virginia, Monongalia County is at the top of the list. Niche considers factors such as state assessment proficiency, graduation rates, college enrollment, and staffing when determining a district’s ranking. By taking a closer look at these rankings in addition to other important local characteristics, we may better understand the factors that allow some school districts to perform well under the state’s current approach to school funding while others are left underfunded and underresourced.

Why Did Monongalia County Receive the #1 Ranking?

• Scale
  • Monongalia County is one of the state’s largest public school districts and serves over 11,000 students. Operating costs like building maintenance and utilities can be more easily spread across students in districts that serve a larger student population.

• Student Need
  • Monongalia County public schools serve a smaller share of students from low-income families compared to others. Only one-third of Monongalia County public school students are from low-income families, while the state average is one-half. Students from low-income families often require more resources to achieve the same academic outcomes as their peers from higher income families.

• Community Capacity
  • Monongalia County benefits from being a wealthier community. The median household income in the county is about $62,700, almost $5,000 above the state’s median income. Local funding is a critical aspect of public education funding and is raised from property taxes. As a result, school districts with higher property values and wealthier residents can better fund their public schools. Monongalia County also has an excess levy that raises over $31.8 million annually to supplement funding for instruction, technology, technical education, extracurriculars and additional programs, building maintenance, transportation, and staff salaries. The majority of the levy, $20.4 million, goes toward staff salaries.
  • Monongalia County spends $15,872 per pupil, which is about $200 higher than the state average. Research shows that heightened spending per pupil increases graduation rates, improves student incomes in adulthood, and lowers the likelihood of students experiencing poverty in adulthood.

Better Funding, Better Schools?

Increased spending in public schools can fund modifications that better promote student achievement such as increased staffing, additional instructional support, and smaller class sizes. Spending can also go toward higher pay for teachers and staff to improve retention and recruitment.

Funding for public schools is a necessary investment for the future of West Virginia children. Regardless of where they live, the children of our state deserve a quality public education. Lower and higher income school districts alike should be equipped to meet the needs of their students. For the same cost as the Hope Scholarship next year ($110 million), West Virginia lawmakers could fund raises for teachers, school nurses, aides, paraprofessionals, assistant teachers, and service personnel including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodians. This investment could also support the hiring of more school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and special education teachers in each county.