PRESTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Preston County Schools serves 4,090 students across 10 schools in a rural West Virginia county, comprising 8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district experienced a 3.5% enrollment decline from the prior year, reflecting broader demographic trends in the region. With 291 teachers, the district maintains a student-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

Academic performance falls below state averages across measured indicators. Math proficiency stands at 35.3% compared to the state average of 38.3%, while reading proficiency is 41.9% against a state average of 46.9%. The graduation rate of 91.5% is slightly lower than the state average of 93.7%, though the dropout rate of 2.0% remains relatively low.

Demographically, the district serves a population with significant economic challenges, with 46.4% of students classified as economically disadvantaged and 20.5% identified as students with disabilities. The student population is 85.4% White, 0.2% Black, and 0.3% Hispanic.

Financially, Preston County Schools operates with per-pupil spending of $7,022, substantially below the state average of $9,336. The district's total budget of $57.9M is supported by federal funds (12.6%), state appropriations (57.5%), and local revenue (29.9%). The reliance on state funding reflects typical patterns for rural districts with limited local tax bases.