Best public high schools in West Virginia
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in West Virginia using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in West Virginia
#30. Tyler Consolidated High School
– Location: Tyler County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 367 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#29. Buffalo High School
– Location: Putnam County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 358 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#28. Martinsburg High School
– Location: Berkeley County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,491 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#27. Moorefield High School
– Location: Hardy County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 497 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#26. Parkersburg High School
– Location: Wood County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,719 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
You may also like: Counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia
#25. Robert C. Byrd High School
– Location: Harrison County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 754 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#24. Shady Spring High School
– Location: Raleigh County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 814 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#23. Jefferson High School
– Location: Jefferson County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,449 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#22. Herbert Hoover High School
– Location: Kanawha County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 776 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#21. Hedgesville High School
– Location: Berkeley County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,347 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
You may also like: Counties where the most opioids are dispensed in West Virginia
#20. Saint Albans High School
– Location: Kanawha County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 977 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#19. East Hardy High School
– Location: Hardy County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 204 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#18. Frankfort High School
– Location: Mineral County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 478 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B-
#17. Cabell Midland High School
– Location: Cabell County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,800 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#16. Woodrow Wilson High School
– Location: Raleigh County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,324 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
You may also like: Counties with the worst commutes in West Virginia
#15. Princeton Senior High School
– Location: Mercer County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 965 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#14. Musselman High School
– Location: Berkeley County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,713 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#13. Parkersburg South High School
– Location: Wood County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,518 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#12. Huntington High School
– Location: Cabell County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,714 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#11. Washington High School
– Location: Jefferson County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,344 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
You may also like: Best public colleges in West Virginia
#10. Fairmont Senior High School
– Location: Marion County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 809 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B
#9. Williamstown Middle/High School
– Location: Wood County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 681 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B+
#8. Spring Mills High School
– Location: Berkeley County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,414 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B+
#7. Hurricane High School
– Location: Putnam County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,332 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B+
#6. Wheeling Park High School
– Location: Ohio County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,550 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade B+
You may also like: Metros where renters are the most overextended in West Virginia
#5. George Washington High School
– Location: Kanawha County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,192 (25:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#4. Winfield High School
– Location: Putnam County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 762 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#3. Bridgeport High School
– Location: Harrison County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 851 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#2. University High School
– Location: Monongalia County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,340 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#1. Morgantown High School
– Location: Monongalia County Schools, WV
– Enrollment: 1,858 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
You may also like: Counties with the highest rates of strokes in West Virginia
By Stacker
It’s awesome to see top public high schools in West Virginia focus on college prep! Many even offer advanced courses and extracurriculars that really boost readiness. Programs like dual enrollment and STEM can give students a solid edge for competitive colleges.
I wonder which extracurriculars really stand out. My friend thrived in a STEM program!
I’ve seen some awesome arts programs, too. They really help students express themselves. You might want to check out schools with strong clubs and activities for even more options!
I bet those STEM programs are incredible! Plus, don’t forget about arts and sports. they can really enhance a student’s experience. Balancing academics with extracurriculars is so important!