Putnam 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.

Winfield, West Virginia - 22 schools

An equity score of 21/100 ranks Putnam County Schools #50 of 56 districts in West Virginia (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,149 per pupil, Putnam County Schools ranks #43 of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (West Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,993
Total Enrollment
22
Schools
$13,149
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Putnam County Schools operates 22 public schools serving 8,993 students, placing it in the mid-size range in West Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 13 combined, 4 high, 4 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage 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 Putnam County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,149 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half 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 38.9% local, 48.4% state, and 12.8% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 21/100, ranked #50 of 56 in West Virginia against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 22 schools offering Advanced Placement (45 AP courses district-wide), a 289:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 30.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 94.0% White, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Mountain View Elementary School, with a diversity index of 29.9/100.

Its largest campus is Hurricane High School, enrolling 1,141 students (13% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Hometown Elementary, at 58 students, a 20x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Putnam County Schools school enrollment varies 20× across entities

Putnam County Schools school enrollment ranges from 58 students (lowest) to 1,141 students (highest), a spread of 1,083 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. 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

Putnam County Schools student-counselor ratio is 289:1 — 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 Putnam County Schools is typically wider than the Putnam County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Putnam County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 30.9% — 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?

12.8%
Federal
48.4%
State
38.9%
Local

Funding Equity

21
Equity Score
50 / 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 22 schools in Putnam County Schools.

White 94.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 2.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 11.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Mountain View Elementary School 29.9
  2. 2 West Teays Elementary 21.0
  3. 3 Rock Branch Elementary 19.8
  4. 4 Hurricane High School 19.2
  5. 5 Scott Teays Elementary 18.5

Programs & Resources

4 / 22
Schools with AP
45 AP courses total
289:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
30.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Putnam County Schools

School Enrollment
Hurricane High School
1,141
Hurricane Middle
821
Winfield High School
743
Winfield Middle School
552
Winfield Elementary
534
Mountain View Elementary School
457
West Teays Elementary
453
Scott Teays Elementary
435
Poca High School
410
Buffalo High School
382
Conner Street Elementary
292
George Washington Middle School
291
Poca Elementary
279
Poca Middle School
277
Hurricane Town Elementary
269
Eastbrook Elementary School
255
George Washington Elementary School
201
Buffalo Elementary School
195
Rock Branch Elementary
187
Lakeside Elementary
182
Confidence Elementary
102
Hometown Elementary
58

How Putnam County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mercer County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Jefferson County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harrison County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Marion County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Raleigh County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Putnam 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 Putnam County Schools?

Putnam County Schools has 22 schools, including 4 high, 4 middle, 13 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,993 students.

How much does Putnam County Schools spend per student?

Putnam County Schools spends $13,149 per student. The district has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #50 in West Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Putnam County Schools?

Putnam County Schools students are 94.0% White, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% African American, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 22 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Putnam County Schools?

Putnam County Schools has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #50 out of 56 districts in West Virginia.