Nicholas County Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Summersville, West Virginia - 13 schools

An equity score of 37/100 ranks Nicholas County Schools #30 of 56 districts in West Virginia (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,734 per pupil, Nicholas County Schools ranks #51 of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (West Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,484
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$12,734
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Nicholas County Schools operates 13 public schools serving 3,484 students, placing it among the smaller districts in West Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 combined, 2 high, 2 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Nicholas County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,734 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 6 of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending. See how West Virginia compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.4% local, 50.3% state, and 28.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 37/100, ranked #30 of 56 in West Virginia against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 313.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 31.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 97.7% White, 0.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Summersville Elementary School, with a diversity index of 9.8/100.

Its largest campus is Nicholas County High School, enrolling 708 students (22% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Birch River Elementary School, at 64 students, a 11x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Nicholas County High School accounts for 20.3% of all Nicholas County Schools student enrollment

That concentration means Nicholas County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

Nicholas County Schools school enrollment varies 11× across entities

Nicholas County Schools school enrollment ranges from 64 students (lowest) to 708 students (highest), a spread of 644 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Nicholas County Schools student-counselor ratio is 313:1 — 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 Nicholas County Schools is typically wider than the Nicholas County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Nicholas County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 31.9% — 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?

28.3%
Federal
50.3%
State
21.4%
Local

Funding Equity

37
Equity Score
30 / 56
State Rank
38
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 13 schools in Nicholas County Schools.

White 97.7%
Multiracial 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 4.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Nicholas County Schools's schools, below the West Virginia average of 17.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Summersville Elementary School 9.8
  2. 2 Glade Creek Elementary School 7.8
  3. 3 Cherry River Elementary School 7.5
  4. 4 Mt Nebo Elementary School 5.7
  5. 5 Nicholas County High School 5.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 13
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
313.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Nicholas County Schools

School Enrollment
Nicholas County High School
708
Summersville Middle School
509
Summersville Elementary School
331
Richwood High School
299
Gauley River Elementary School
295
Richwood Middle School
228
Panther Creek Elementary School
211
Cherry River Elementary School
152
Glade Creek Elementary School
124
Mt Lookout Elementary School
121
Mt Nebo Elementary School
105
Zela Elementary School
67
Birch River Elementary School
64

How Nicholas County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The West Virginia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Hancock County Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Wyoming County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Randolph County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mingo County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Upshur County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Nicholas County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $13,227/pupil
Compare vs Nicholas County Schools →
Berkeley County Schools
19,856 students · 32 schools · $12,704/pupil
Compare vs Nicholas County Schools →
Wood County Schools
11,663 students · 27 schools · $12,407/pupil
Compare vs Nicholas County Schools →
Cabell County Schools
11,473 students · 26 schools · $14,538/pupil
Compare vs Nicholas County Schools →
Monongalia County Schools
11,297 students · 18 schools · $13,751/pupil
Compare vs Nicholas County Schools →

Compare Nicholas 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 Nicholas County Schools?

Nicholas County Schools has 13 schools, including 2 high, 2 middle, 9 combined. Total enrollment is 3,484 students.

How much does Nicholas County Schools spend per student?

Nicholas County Schools spends $12,734 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #30 in West Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Nicholas County Schools?

Nicholas County Schools students are 97.7% White, 0.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 13 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Nicholas County Schools?

Nicholas County Schools has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #30 out of 56 districts in West Virginia.