Nicholas County Schools

Public school district · Nicholas County · West Virginia · NCES district ID 5401020

Nicholas County Schools spent $14,052 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 69% of the other West Virginia districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $14,361). Its 13 schools enrolled 3,214 students in 2024-25; 45.8% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,198 per student, up 8.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 97% (West Virginia: 92.6%).

Spending per student among West Virginia districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Nicholas County Schools in enrollment (2,942 to 4,023 students) and Nicholas County Schools itself.

Current spending per student, West Virginia districts closest in size to Nicholas County Schools, FY23Boone County Schools $15,630; Mason County Schools $14,880; Lincoln County Schools $14,841; Hancock County Schools $14,820; Wyoming County Schools $14,525; Mingo County Schools $14,081; Nicholas County Schools $14,052; Mineral County Schools $13,984; Randolph County $12,936; Upshur County Schools $12,908; State median, 1,000+ students $14,361.10k12k14k16kBoone County Schools$15,630Mason County Schools$14,880Lincoln County Schools$14,841Hancock County Schools$14,820Wyoming County Schools$14,525Mingo County Schools$14,081Nicholas County Schools$14,052Mineral County Schools$13,984Randolph County$12,936Upshur County Schools$12,908State median, 1,000+ students $14,361
Current spending per student, West Virginia districts closest in size to Nicholas County Schools, FY23Boone County Schools $15,630; Mason County Schools $14,880; Lincoln County Schools $14,841; Hancock County Schools $14,820; Wyoming County Schools $14,525; Mingo County Schools $14,081; Nicholas County Schools $14,052; Mineral County Schools $13,984; Randolph County $12,936; Upshur County Schools $12,908; State median, 1,000+ students $14,361.10k12k14k16kBoone County Schools$15,630Mason County Schools$14,880Lincoln County Schools$14,841Hancock County Schools$14,820Wyoming County Schools$14,525Mingo County Schools$14,081Nicholas County Schools$14,052Mineral County Schools$13,984Randolph County$12,936Upshur County Schools$12,908State median, 1,000+ students $14,361
Current spending per student, West Virginia districts closest in size to Nicholas County Schools, FY23Boone County Schools $15,630; Mason County Schools $14,880; Lincoln County Schools $14,841; Hancock County Schools $14,820; Wyoming County Schools $14,525; Mingo County Schools $14,081; Nicholas County Schools $14,052; Mineral County Schools $13,984; Randolph County $12,936; Upshur County Schools $12,908; State median, 1,000+ students $14,361.10k12k14k16kBoone County Schools$15,630Mason County Schools$14,880Lincoln County Schools$14,841Hancock County Schools$14,820Wyoming County Schools$14,525Mingo County Schools$14,081Nicholas County Schools$14,052Mineral County Schools$13,984Randolph County$12,936Upshur County Schools$12,908State median, 1,000+ students $14,361
Current spending per student, West Virginia districts closest in size to Nicholas County Schools, FY23Boone County Schools $15,630; Mason County Schools $14,880; Lincoln County Schools $14,841; Hancock County Schools $14,820; Wyoming County Schools $14,525; Mingo County Schools $14,081; Nicholas County Schools $14,052; Mineral County Schools $13,984; Randolph County $12,936; Upshur County Schools $12,908; State median, 1,000+ students $14,361.10k12k14k16kBoone County Schools$15,630Mason County Schools$14,880Lincoln County Schools$14,841Hancock County Schools$14,820Wyoming County Schools$14,525Mingo County Schools$14,081Nicholas County Schools$14,052Mineral County Schools$13,984Randolph County$12,936Upshur County Schools$12,908State median, 1,000+ students $14,361

Where the money came from

$63,274,000 in revenue: 45.8% state, 21.1% local and 33.1% federal. Total spending including $3,872,000 of capital outlay was $53,452,000, or $15,342 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Nicholas County Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $28,963,000; Local $13,348,000; Federal $20,963,000; total $63,274,000.
  • State$28,963,000 46%
  • Local$13,348,000 21%
  • Federal$20,963,000 33%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 49 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

3,484 students in 2022-23, 3,380 students in 2023-24, 3,214 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Nicholas County Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,484, 2023-24: 3,380, 2024-25: 3,21401k2k3k4k2022-233,4842023-243,3802024-253,214
Nicholas County Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,484, 2023-24: 3,380, 2024-25: 3,21401k2k3k4k2022-233,4842023-243,3802024-253,214
Nicholas County Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,484, 2023-24: 3,380, 2024-25: 3,21401k2k3k4k2022-233,4842023-243,3802024-253,214
Nicholas County Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,484, 2023-24: 3,380, 2024-25: 3,21401k2k3k4k2022-233,4842023-243,3802024-253,214

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-233,484241.014.5
2023-243,380239.514.1
2024-253,214223.014.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$12,963,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $3,721 per student

Nicholas County Schools booked $12,963,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 261 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $49,762 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 15 in 100 West Virginia districts with a figure (state median $53,375, 55 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average West Virginia teacher salary at $50,315 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$9,797,00075.6%
Special education$2,103,00016.2%
Vocational$837,0006.5%
Other programs$226,0001.7%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,302 in 2018-19, $3,316 in 2019-20, $3,551 in 2020-21, $3,500 in 2021-22, $3,721 in 2022-23.

Nicholas County Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,302, 2019-20: $3,316, 2020-21: $3,551, 2021-22: $3,500, 2022-23: $3,72101k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3022019-20$3,3162020-21$3,5512021-22$3,5002022-23$3,721
Nicholas County Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,302, 2019-20: $3,316, 2020-21: $3,551, 2021-22: $3,500, 2022-23: $3,72101k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3022019-20$3,3162020-21$3,5512021-22$3,5002022-23$3,721
Nicholas County Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,302, 2019-20: $3,316, 2020-21: $3,551, 2021-22: $3,500, 2022-23: $3,72101k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3022019-20$3,3162020-21$3,5512021-22$3,5002022-23$3,721
Nicholas County Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,302, 2019-20: $3,316, 2020-21: $3,551, 2021-22: $3,500, 2022-23: $3,72101k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3022019-20$3,3162020-21$3,5512021-22$3,5002022-23$3,721

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Nicholas County Schools scored proficient or above: 35% in reading and 30% in math, against 41.3% in reading and 32.2% in math across West Virginia. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within West Virginia, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtWest VirginiaStudents tested
Reading and language arts35%41.3%1,717
Math30%32.2%1,718

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

97% of the 229 students in Nicholas County Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 92.6% across West Virginia. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtWest Virginia
Four-year graduation rate97%92.6%
Students in the class22918,443

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

9 elementary schools, 1,470 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Summersville Elementary School33113.8All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Gauley River Elementary School29514.8All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Panther Creek Elementary School21114.1All free (CEP)Not Title I
Cherry River Elementary School15212.7All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Glade Creek Elementary School12415.5All free (CEP)Not Title I
Mt Lookout Elementary School12113.4All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Mt Nebo Elementary School10513.1All free (CEP)Not Title I
Zela Elementary School679.6All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Birch River Elementary School649.1All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 middle schools, 737 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Summersville Middle School50914.4All free (CEP)Not Title I
Richwood Middle School22813.0All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 high schools, 1,007 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Nicholas County High School70817.2All free (CEP)Not Title I
Richwood High School29915.7All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Nicholas County Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Nicholas County Schools

  1. West Virginia districts by spending per studentNicholas County Schools ranks 34 of 49 West Virginia districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($14,052).#34 of 49
  2. Every school district in West VirginiaNicholas County Schools is the number 27 by size of 61 West Virginia districts, with 3,484 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#27 of 61
  3. Hancock County SchoolsThe next larger West Virginia district: 3,497 students in fall 2022, $14,820 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$14,820
  4. Boone County SchoolsThe next smaller West Virginia district: 3,188 students in fall 2022, $15,630 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,630
  5. Compare Nicholas County Schools with Hancock County SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Nicholas County High School, its largest high school708 students in 2024-25, 17.2 per teacher.708
  7. Teacher salary spending across West VirginiaNicholas County Schools spent $49,762 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $53,375); spending, not a salary.$49,762
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Nicholas County Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in Nicholas County Schools?
    13 schools were open in 2024-25 (9 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high), enrolling 3,214 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Nicholas County Schools spend per student?
    $14,052 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the West Virginia median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $14,361 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,198 per student, up 8.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Nicholas County Schools' money come from?
    $63,274,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 45.8% state, 21.1% local and 33.1% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Nicholas County Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 747 of the 3,699 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 20.2%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Nicholas County Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $12,963,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $3,721 per student. Divided by the 261 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $49,762 per teacher, more than 15 in 100 West Virginia districts (state median $53,375). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average West Virginia teacher salary at $50,315 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Nicholas County Schools do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Nicholas County Schools scored proficient or above: 35% in reading and 30% in math, against 41.3% in reading and 32.2% in math across West Virginia. West Virginia's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Nicholas County Schools?
    97% of the 229 students in Nicholas County Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 92.6% across West Virginia. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Nicholas County Schools' NCES district ID?
    5401020. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25