Wood 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.

Parkersburg, West Virginia - 24 schools

An equity score of 21/100 ranks Wood County Schools #49 of 56 districts in West Virginia (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,407 per pupil, Wood County Schools ranks #54 of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (West Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

11,663
Total Enrollment
24
Schools
$12,407
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wood County Schools operates 24 public schools serving 11,663 students, placing it in the mid-size range in West Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 17 combined, 5 middle, 2 high 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 Wood County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,407 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 31.1% local, 52.8% state, and 16.0% 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 21/100, ranked #49 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 3 of 24 schools offering Advanced Placement (10 AP courses district-wide), a 363.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 30.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.3% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Neale Elementary School, with a diversity index of 31.7/100.

Its largest campus is Parkersburg High School, enrolling 1,491 students (13% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Fairplains Elementary School, at 160 students, a 9x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Wood County Schools school enrollment varies 9.3× across entities

Wood County Schools school enrollment ranges from 160 students (lowest) to 1,491 students (highest), a spread of 1,331 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

Wood County Schools student-counselor ratio is 364:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Wood County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 30.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Wood County Schools is typically wider than the Wood County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

16.0%
Federal
52.8%
State
31.1%
Local

Funding Equity

21
Equity Score
49 / 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 24 schools in Wood County Schools.

White 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%
African American 1.4%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 4.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 16.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Wood County Schools's schools, about the same as the West Virginia average of 17.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Neale Elementary School 31.7
  2. 2 Van Devender Middle School 29.2
  3. 3 Jefferson Elementary Center 26.1
  4. 4 Madison Elementary School 22.8
  5. 5 Jackson Middle School 21.0

Programs & Resources

3 / 24
Schools with AP
10 AP courses total
363.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
30.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wood County Schools

School Enrollment
Parkersburg High School
1,491
Parkersburg South High School
1,373
Williamstown High School
676
Edison Middle School
551
Williamstown Elementary School
545
Blennerhassett Middle School
534
Blennerhassett Elementary School
522
Jefferson Elementary Center
475
Mineral Wells Elementary School
465
Hamilton Middle School
446
Jackson Middle School
429
Lubeck Elementary School
381
Emerson Elementary School
361
Neale Elementary School
357
Vienna Elementary School
288
Criss Elementary School
267
Kanawha Elementary School
265
Madison Elementary School
264
Franklin Elementary Center
262
Gihon Elementary School
261
Martin Elementary School
250
Van Devender Middle School
244
Greenmont Elementary School
229
Fairplains Elementary School
160

How Wood County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Cabell County Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Monongalia County Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Raleigh County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harrison County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Putnam County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Wood 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 Wood County Schools →
Berkeley County Schools
19,856 students · 32 schools · $12,704/pupil
Compare vs Wood County Schools →
Cabell County Schools
11,473 students · 26 schools · $14,538/pupil
Compare vs Wood County Schools →
Monongalia County Schools
11,297 students · 18 schools · $13,751/pupil
Compare vs Wood County Schools →
Raleigh County Schools
10,867 students · 27 schools · $13,014/pupil
Compare vs Wood County Schools →

Compare Wood 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 Wood County Schools?

Wood County Schools has 24 schools, including 2 high, 17 combined, 5 middle. Total enrollment is 11,663 students.

How much does Wood County Schools spend per student?

Wood County Schools spends $12,407 per student. The district has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #49 in West Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Wood County Schools?

Wood County Schools students are 91.3% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 24 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wood County Schools?

Wood County Schools has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #49 out of 56 districts in West Virginia.