Tracking Public School Closures in WV

Public schools are at the heart of our communities. In addition to educating the majority of children in the Mountain State, public schools also provide essential meals, health services, extracurricular activities, college and career preparation, and technical and vocational training. Public schools also serve as gathering spaces in our communities where we cheer on sports teams, watch musical performances and plays, celebrate student achievements, and even cast our votes in elections.

Due to a combination of factors, including declining student enrollment, expired pandemic-era federal relief funding, the growing Hope Scholarship, and an outdated funding formula, public schools across the state have less funding and resources to meet the needs of their students and communities. This has culminated in a new wave of school closures.

Over the past several years, the number of public schools in West Virginia has dwindled. More than 70 public schools have closed across the state since 2019 and more closures are on the way. When public schools close, communities pay the price, and it becomes that much harder for children to access essential services and resources that aid in their current and future success and wellbeing.

The WVCBP is tracking public school closures across West Virginia. Hover over the map below to learn more about recently proposed and approved public school closures.

This page was last updated on October 22, 2025. Do you know of a public school proposed for closure that is not listed here? Have you been personally impacted by these closures and are interested in sharing your story? Please contact Tamaya.

Public School Closures Proposed During the 2025-26 School Year

School	County	Status	Details	Public Hearing(s)	Board Vote
Verdunville Elementary School	Logan	Approved (Emergency Closure)	Closed on an emergency basis in August 2025 and consolidated with Omar Elementary School.
Harman School	Randolph	Approved by the county board of education	Plan to consolidate with Jennings Randolph Elementary, Elkins Middle School, and Elkins High School. This school was approved to close last year, but the decision was reversed.	Public hearings were held on October 8.	The county board of education voted to approve the closure on October 8.
North Elementary School	Randolph	Approved by the county board of education	Plan to consolidate with Jennings Randolph Elementary School.	Public hearings were held on October 8.	The county board of education voted to approve the closure on October 8.
Pickens School	Randolph	Proposal cancelled	Plan to consolidate with George Ward Elementary and Tygarts Valley Middle/High School. This school was approved to close last year, but the decision was reversed.
Midland Elementary School	Randolph	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Beverly Elementary School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 28.	Board vote scheduled for October 28.
Coalton Elementary School	Randolph	Proposed	Plan to consolidate Coalton with Third Ward Elementary School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 28.	Board vote scheduled for October 28.
Geary Elementary/Middle School	Roane	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Spencer Elementary School and Spencer Middle School. All pre-k students to consolidate and use space at Roane County High School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 28 and 29 and November 3 and 4.	Board vote scheduled for November 6.
Walton Elementary/Middle School	Roane	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Spencer Elementary School and Spencer Middle School. All pre-k students to consolidate and use space at Roane County High School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 27and 29 and November 3 and 4.	Board vote scheduled for November 6.
Rock Cave Elementary School	Upshur	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with French Creek Elementary School.	Public hearings scheduled for November 13.	Board vote scheduled for November 20.
Tennerton Elementary School	Upshur	Proposal cancelled	Plan to consolidate with Buckhannon Academy Elementary School.
Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School	Upshur	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Buckhannon-Upshur High School.
Magnolia High School	Wetzel	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Valley High School into a newly constructed school that will serve all 6th through 12th grade students in the county. Hundred Heritage School, New Martinsville School, and Short Line School to be reconfigured from Pre-K through 8th grade to Pre-K through 5th grade.	Public hearings scheduled for November 13 and 17.	Board vote scheduled for November 21.
Valley High School	Wetzel	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Magnolia High School into a newly constructed school that will serve all 6th through 12th grade students in the county. Hundred Heritage School, New Martinsville School, and Short Line School to be reconfigured from Pre-K through 8th grade to Pre-K through 5th grade.	Public hearings scheduled for November 13 and 19.	Board vote scheduled for November 21.
Belington Middle School	Barbour	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Philip Barbour High School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 29.	Board vote scheduled for November 10.
Kasson Elementary/Middle School	Barbour	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Philip Barbour High School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 28 and 29.	Board vote scheduled for November 10.
Philippi Middle School	Barbour	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Philip Barbour High School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 28 and 29.	Board vote scheduled for November 10.
Junior Elementary School	Barbour	Proposed	Plan to consolidate with Belington Elementary School.	Public hearings scheduled for October 30.	Board vote scheduled for November 10.

How Do Public School Closures Work?

According to state policy, before a public school can close, the school district must:

1. Submit an impact statement and supporting data to the West Virginia Board of Education including comparisons of the affected schools, expected costs or savings, impacts to students and personnel, and impacts to the community. The statement and supporting data must also be available for public inspection.
2. Provide notice and hold a public hearing for each affected school, including those proposed to close and those proposed to receive students from the closed school.
3. Hold a vote of the county board of education.
4. File a request for school closure and/or consolidation with the West Virginia Board of Education. 
5. Receive approval from the West Virginia Board of Education.  

How Can You Protect Public Schools?

Engage in local decision-making and hold local leaders accountable by:

1. Attending local meetings such as school board meetings and local school improvement council (LSIC) meetings.
2. Speaking up at local meetings, sharing your concerns, and asking questions to learn what is driving decision-making.
3. Amplifying the value of public schools and sharing with others what your public school means to you and your community.

Advocate for lawmakers to adequately and equitably fund public schools by:

1. Implementing equitable funding practices to ensure that all students in the state have access to quality public education, regardless of background.
2. Stopping the expansion of the Hope Scholarship which is set for next year.
3. Implementing guardrails for the Hope Scholarship including caps on program cost and enrollment, household income limits for applicants, requirements for schools, and comprehensive public reporting.

For more information on past public school closures in the Mountain State, take a look at the West Virginia Department of Education’s five year school closure count map.

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[1] Atticus Pead, “Five consolidation options proposed for Randolph County Schools,” WDTV, July 3, 2025, https://www.wdtv.com/2025/07/03/5-consolidation-options-proposed-randolph-county-schools/.

[2] Katherine Skeldon, “Randolph County Board of Education decides not to close two schools amid budget shortfalls,” West Virginia MetroNews, January 8, 2025, https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/08/randolph-county-board-of-education-decides-not-to-close-two-schools-amid-budget-shortfalls/.

[3] Eric Minor and Joey Rather. “Two Upshur County schools would close under proposed consolidation plan,” WBOY, August 12, 2025, https://www.wboy.com/news/education/2-upshur-county-schools-would-close-under-proposed-consolidation-plan/.

[4] Roger Adkins, “School closures on the table as Roane County confronts budget shortfall,” Spencer Record & Reporter, August 7, 2025, https://www.wvnews.com/spencernews/news/school-closures-on-the-table-as-roane-county-confronts-budget-shortfall/article_28cdf3cf-9d5b-40f8-b6b4-79665fdfee14.html.

[5] Steven Moore, “Wetzel County Board of Education votes to acquire $4 million property for new consolidated campus,” WTRF, August 12, 2025, https://www.wtrf.com/top-stories/wetzel-county-board-of-education-votes-to-acquire-4-million-property-for-new-consolidated-campus/.

[6] Steven Allen Adams, “Numbers Crunched: West Virginia Board of Education approves school consolidation plans for Paden City, Hundred high schools,” Parkersburg News and Sentinel, December 12, 2024, https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2024/12/numbers-crunched-west-virginia-board-of-education-approves-school-consolidation-plans-for-paden-city-hundred-high-schools/.

[7] Jessica Patterson and Riley McIlmoyle, “Verdunville Elementary in Logan County recommended for indefinite closure,” WOWK, August 1, 2025, https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/logan-county-wv/verdunville-elementary-in-logan-county-recommended-for-indefinite-closure/.

[8] Jesten Richardson, “Superintendent: Dunlow, Genoa elementary schools will remain open next year, Huntington Herald-Dispatch, December 13, 2024, https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/superintendent-dunlow-genoa-elementary-schools-will-remain-open-next-year/article_1c72d28a-b8ab-11ef-8492-13f37dcbc19f.html.

[9] Amelia Ferrel Knisely, “WV school board Oks closing Kanawha schools, amid statewide struggle with student, funding loss,” West Virginia Watch, November 13, 2024, https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/11/13/wv-school-board-oks-closing-kanawha-schools-amid-statewide-struggle-with-student-funding-loss/.

[10] Chris Schulz, “State Board of Education approves more schools closures,” West Virginia Public Broadcasting, December 11, 2024, https://wvpublic.org/story/education/state-board-of-education-approves-more-school-closures/.

[11] Chris Schulz, “State of Emergency declared for Pocahontas County Schools, updated provided for other state school interventions,” West Virginia Public Broadcasting, February 12, 2025, https://wvpublic.org/story/education/state-of-emergency-declared-for-pocahontas-county-schools-updates-provided-for-other-state-school-interventions/.

[12] Barbara Ron, “Harrison County Superintendent addresses consolidation concerns,” WBOY, April 16, 2024, https://www.wboy.com/news/education/harrison-county-superintendent-addresses-consolidation-concerns/.

[13] Joey Rather and Barbara Ron, “Preston County superintendent speaks after board votes to close two rural school,” WBOY, November 20, 2024, https://www.wboy.com/news/preston/preston-county-superintendent-speaks-after-board-votes-to-close-2-rural-schools/.

[14] Randolph County School District, School Closure/Merger Information, https://boe.rand.k12.wv.us/o/rcsd/page/school-closuremerger-information.

[15] Barbour County School District, Impact Statement, https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/5369/BCSD/6056893/BCS_Impact_Document_2025_2026.pdf.

[16] Roane County School District, Impact Statement, https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2261/RCS/6053013/Roane_Closure_Application_Template_2.0__2_.pdf.

[17] Allen Clayton, “Randolph County BOE approves school closures and consolidations,” WBOY, October 9, 2025, https://www.wboy.com/news/randolph/randolph-county-boe-approves-school-closures-and-consolidations/.

[18] Wetzel County School District, Board of Education October 7, 2025 Special Meeting, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrluDjljPxU.

[19] WDTV News Staff, “Pickens School staying open for now after closure hearing is cancelled,” WDTV, October 16, 2025, https://www.wdtv.com/2025/10/16/pickens-school-staying-open-now-after-closure-hearing-is-cancelled/.

[20] Noah Jeffries, “Upshur County Board of Education halts Tennerton Elementary closure; Rock Cave merger proceeds amid concerns,” WV News, October 22, 2025, https://www.wvnews.com/recorddelta/news/upshur-county-board-of-education-halts-tennerton-elementary-closure-rock-cave-merger-proceeds-amid-concerns/article_d19cbe0c-213a-41a2-a5e1-5dac496c4d19.html.

[21] WV News, Details for Public Hearing, October 22, 2025, https://www.wvnews.com/recorddelta/classifieds/record_delta/legals/public-hearing/ad_66d670da-4944-566f-b7d4-537da66cb7a2.html.