Best Public Schools in Charleston, WV

The city of Charleston, West Virginia is home to 28 schools, including 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. These schools serve students across the city and provide a range of educational opportunities.

Among the standout schools in the area, George Washington High School consistently ranks among the top in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. It boasts high proficiency rates in math, English, and science, as well as a strong 92.5% four-year graduation rate. John Adams Middle School is also a top performer, ranking in the state's top 10 for the past three years with impressive proficiency rates across all subject areas. At the elementary level, Holz Elementary School and Overbrook Elementary School stand out with proficiency rates well above the county and state averages.

While the top-performing schools in the Kanawha County Schools district offer valuable insights, the data also reveals a significant gap between the highest and lowest performing schools, both in terms of test scores and graduation rates. This points to potential equity issues that the district may need to address. Additionally, the spending per student does not seem to directly correlate with school performance, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving outcomes across all schools in the Charleston area.