MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

PRINCETON, West Virginia — 24 schools

8,686
Total Enrollment
24
Schools
$14,274
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS operates 24 public schools serving 8,686 students, placing it in the mid-size range in West Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 other, 8 elementary, 3 high, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,268 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Mercer County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,274 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 25.3% local, 54.8% state, and 19.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $62,105 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 28/100, ranked #40 of 56 in West Virginia against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 24 schools offering Advanced Placement (42 AP courses district-wide), a 278.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 34.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 82.0% White, 7.5% African American, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS school enrollment varies 7.9× across entities

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS school enrollment ranges from 117 students (lowest) to 925 students (highest), a spread of 808 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS student-counselor ratio is 278:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS is typically wider than the MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS chronic absenteeism rate is 34.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.9%
Federal
54.8%
State
25.3%
Local

Funding Equity

28
Equity Score
40 / 56
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Mercer County county, where this district is located.

$618
Studio/mo
$717
1 BR/mo
$896
2 BR/mo
$1,206
3 BR/mo
$1,258
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$62,105
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 24 schools in MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS.

White 82.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%
African American 7.5%
Multiracial 8.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 24
Schools with AP
42 AP courses total
278.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
34.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

School Enrollment
Princeton Senior High School
925
Pikeview High School
629
Bluefield High School
618
Glenwood School (K-8)
614
Pikeview Middle School
502
Princeton Middle School
488
Princeton Primary School
448
Bluefield Middle School
428
Bluefield Primary School
349
Silver Springs Early Learning Center
335
Mountain Valley Elementary School
273
Montcalm High School
269
Bluefield Intermediate School
269
Mercer Elementary
258
Montcalm Elementary School
256
Melrose Elementary School
239
Athens Elementary School
233
Lashmeet/Matoaka Elementary School
181
Straley Elementary School
172
Brushfork Elementary School
171
Oakvale School
168
Bluewell Elementary School
167
Spanishburg
159
Sun Valley Elementary School
117

Nearby Districts in West Virginia

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS
23,864 students · 67 schools · $17,075/pupil
Compare vs MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS →
BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOLS
19,856 students · 32 schools · $13,399/pupil
Compare vs MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS →
WOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS
11,663 students · 27 schools · $13,290/pupil
Compare vs MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS →
CABELL COUNTY SCHOOLS
11,473 students · 26 schools · $15,738/pupil
Compare vs MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS →
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS
11,297 students · 18 schools · $15,071/pupil
Compare vs MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS →

Compare MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS?

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS has 24 schools, including 3 high, 8 elementary, 3 middle, 10 other. Total enrollment is 8,686 students.

How much does MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS spend per student?

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS spends $14,274 per student. The district has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #40 in West Virginia.

What is the average teacher salary in MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS?

The average teacher salary in MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS is $62,105 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Mercer County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS?

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS students are 82.0% White, 7.5% African American, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 24 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS?

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #40 out of 56 districts in West Virginia. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.