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Kanawha County

West Virginia · Public K-12

Kanawha County, West Virginia hosts 70 public K-12 schools and around 25,173 students, averaging roughly 360 per campus. Kanawha County Schools runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 44 elementary, 12 middle, and 11 high schools.

7-year change in Kanawha County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
24,773
-1,499 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
63
-3 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 83%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
10%
was 11%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
176,537
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
70
4 districts
Enrollment
25,173
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,943
Above West Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
44
10,984 students
Middle
12
5,194 students
High
11
7,207 students
Combined / other
3
1,788 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Kanawha County Schools
23,085 students · 4 districts in Kanawha County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Kanawha County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
86%
Hispanic
2%
Black
5%
Asian
1%
Two or more
7%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
80%
Hispanic
1%
Black
10%
Asian
1%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.6%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.8% under 18

Test scores in Kanawha County

Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 61 schools ranked. West Virginia state average: 39.7%.

See all 61 schools in Kanawha County ranked by score →

All schools (70)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
West Virginia Virtual AcademyCharlestonCombinedKG-121,654·
George Washington High SchoolCharlestonHigh09-121,145·
Riverside High SchoolBelleHigh09-121,057·
Capital High SchoolCharlestonHigh09-121,051·
Saint Albans High SchoolSaint AlbansHigh09-12882·
South Charleston High SchoolSouth CharlestonHigh09-12874·
Nitro High SchoolNitroHigh09-12818·
Herbert Hoover High SchoolElkviewHigh09-12782·
John Adams Middle SchoolCharlestonMiddle06-08740·
Elkview Middle SchoolElkviewMiddle06-08621·
Sissonville High SchoolCharlestonHigh09-12564·
Sissonville Middle SchoolCharlestonMiddle05-08521·
Andrew Jackson Middle SchoolCharlestonMiddle06-08488·
Elk Elementary CenterCharlestonElementaryPK-05475·
Hayes Middle SchoolSaint AlbansMiddle06-08464·
Mary C. Snow West Side ElementaryCharlestonElementaryPK-05453·
Du Pont Middle SchoolBelleMiddle06-08440·
Point Harmony Elementary SchoolCross LanesElementaryPK-05440·
Flinn Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-04430·
Bridgeview Elementary SchoolSouth CharlestonElementaryPK-05417·
Edgewood ElementaryCharlestonElementaryPK-05413·
Horace Mann Middle SchoolCharlestonMiddle06-08385·
Nitro Elementary SchoolNitroElementaryPK-05377·
Alban Elementary SchoolSaint AlbansElementaryPK-05376·
Overbrook Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05375·
West Side Middle SchoolCharlestonMiddle06-08374·
South Charleston Middle SchoolSouth CharlestonMiddle06-08354·
Clendenin Elementary SchoolElkviewElementaryPK-05335·
Dunbar Middle SchoolDunbarMiddle06-08325·
Central Elementary SchoolSaint AlbansElementaryPK-05304·
Holz Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05304·
Cross Lanes Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05294·
Lakewood Elementary SchoolSaint AlbansElementaryPK-05294·
Pinch Elementary SchoolElkviewElementaryPK-05282·
Piedmont Year-Round EducationCharlestonElementaryPK-05279·
Dunbar Primary CenterDunbarElementaryPK-02271·
Ruffner Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05271·
Belle Elementary SchoolBelleElementaryPK-05255·
McKinley Middle SchoolSaint AlbansMiddle06-08255·
Weberwood Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05247·
Kanawha City Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05242·
Andrews Heights Elementary SchoolTornadoElementaryPK-05233·
Dunbar Intermediate CenterDunbarElementary03-05232·
East Bank Middle SchoolEast BankMiddle06-08227·
Chamberlain Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05225·
Ruthlawn Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05225·
Montrose Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05224·
Anne Bailey Elementary SchoolSaint AlbansElementaryPK-05221·
Sissonville Elementary SchoolSissonvilleElementaryPK-04216·
Richmond Elementary SchoolSouth CharlestonElementaryPK-05213·
Chesapeake Elementary SchoolChesapeakeElementaryPK-05205·
Shoals Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05191·
Kenna Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05180·
Malden Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05160·
Cedar Grove Elementary SchoolCedar GroveElementaryPK-05159·
Midland Trail Elementary SchoolDiamondElementaryPK-05158·
Alum Creek Elementary SchoolSouth CharlestonElementaryPK-05151·
Pratt Elementary SchoolPrattElementaryPK-05148·
Sharon Dawes Elementary SchoolMiamiElementaryPK-05148·
Mary Ingles Elementary SchoolTadElementaryPK-05143·
George C. Weimer Elementary SchoolSaint AlbansElementaryPK-05134·
Grandview Elementary SchoolCharlestonElementaryPK-05134·
KCS Alternative LearningCharlestonCombinedKG-12134·
Marmet Elementary SchoolMarmetElementaryPK-05103·
WIN Academy at BVCTCSouth CharlestonHigh11-1234·
William J Raglin CenterDunbarElementaryPK-PK29·
Grandview AnnexCharlestonElementaryPK-PK18·
Ben Franklin Career CenterDunbarHigh09-12··
Carver Career CenterCharlestonHigh09-12··
GARNET CAREER CENTERCharlestonCombinedM-M··

Cities in Kanawha County

Charleston30 schoolsSaint Albans8 schoolsSouth Charleston6 schoolsDunbar5 schoolsElkview4 schoolsBelle3 schoolsNitro2 schoolsCedar Grove1 schoolCharleston1 schoolChesapeake1 schoolCross Lanes1 schoolDiamond1 schoolEast Bank1 schoolMarmet1 schoolMiami1 schoolPratt1 schoolSissonville1 schoolTad1 schoolTornado1 school

About Kanawha County

Kanawha County is a mid-sized county of about 176,537 residents in West Virginia. Its public-school system serves approximately 25,173 students across 70 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,943, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 9% higher than the West Virginia median.

In terms of grade levels, Kanawha County is built around 44 elementary schools (10,984 students), 12 middle schools (5,194), 11 high schools (7,207), and 3 combined or other schools.

Kanawha County Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 23,085 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 24,773 students, fell 6% from the 26,272 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Kanawha County lost 3 schools, going from 66 to 63.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Kanawha County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Kanawha County?
There are 70 public K-12 schools in Kanawha County, West Virginia, with a combined enrollment of about 25,173.
How many high schools are in Kanawha County?
Kanawha County, West Virginia has 11 public high schools, serving approximately 7,207 students.
How many middle schools are in Kanawha County?
Kanawha County, West Virginia has 12 public middle schools, serving approximately 5,194 students.
How many elementary schools are in Kanawha County?
Kanawha County, West Virginia has 44 public elementary schools, serving approximately 10,984 students.
What is the largest school district in Kanawha County?
Kanawha County Schools is the largest school district in Kanawha County, serving approximately 23,085 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Kanawha County?
Kanawha County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 176,537, with a median age of 44. About 19.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Kanawha County?
Median household income in Kanawha County is $60,943, above the West Virginia average of $56,023. About 11.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Kanawha County?
Approximately 29.7% of adults 25 and older in Kanawha County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kanawha County schools?
Across Kanawha County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.7 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Kanawha County?
Kanawha County residents are approximately 86% White, 2% Hispanic, 5% Black, 1% Asian, 7% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Kanawha County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data