Total enrollment
1,131
-328 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
Ritchie County
West Virginia · Public K-12
Of the public K-12 schools operating across West Virginia, 5 sit inside Ritchie County, collectively enrolling roughly 1,131 students (3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high).
7-year change in Ritchie County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
-1 (-17%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
97%
was 98%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
1 districts
Enrollment
1,131
NCES CCD
Median income
$50,582
Below West Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
3
502 students
Middle
1
301 students
High
1
328 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ritchie County Schools
1,131 students · 1 district in Ritchie County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ritchie 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
14.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
17.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.4%
civilian labor
Median age
46
19.9% under 18
Test scores in Ritchie County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. West Virginia state average: 39.7%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Harrisville Elementary· 42.0%
- Ritchie County High School· 42.0%
- Ritchie County Middle· 36.0%
- Creed Collins Elementary· 34.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchie County High School | Ellenboro | High | 09-12 | 328 | · |
| Ritchie County Middle | Ellenboro | Middle | 05-08 | 301 | · |
| Creed Collins Elementary | Pennsboro | Elementary | PK-04 | 211 | · |
| Harrisville Elementary | Harrisville | Elementary | PK-04 | 201 | · |
| Smithville Elementary | Smithville | Elementary | PK-04 | 90 | · |
Cities in Ritchie County
About Ritchie County
Ritchie County is a rural-scale county of about 8,286 residents in West Virginia. Its public-school system instructs approximately 1,131 students across 5 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $50,582, roughly 14% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 17% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% meaningfully below the West Virginia median.
In terms of grade levels, Ritchie County is made up of 3 elementary schools (502 students), 1 middle school (301), and 1 high school (328).
Ritchie County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,131 students across Ritchie County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 22%: 1,459 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,131 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Ritchie County closed 1 school, going from 6 to 5.
On allk12, the community for Ritchie County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data