Enrollment down in WV schools, millions needed for safe school infrastructure

By Autumn Shelton, RealWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Wednesday, during their regular monthly meeting, members of the West Virginia Board of Education released statewide school enrollment numbers for the 2025-2026 school year. And, data shows that public school student enrollment continues to decrease. 

“The certified enrollment count for this year is 234,957 students,” said State Superintendent Michele Blatt. “This is a 2.52% reduction from the previous year. As we look through the data, we can say that 98.2% of our students are still served in our public schools.” 

Blatt continued that the state’s population loss as well as an increase in the number of students entering home school options through the Hope Scholarship are two of the reasons for this decline in public education enrollment.

“53 of our 55 districts did decrease in enrollment this past year, with only Tyler and Doddridge having an increase in enrollment,” Blatt said, adding that this decrease correlates to the number of school consolidations and school closings that are occurring throughout the state. 

Data, provided by the West Virginia Board of Education, shows the following enrollment numbers for 2025-2026: 

• There are 618 public schools statewide (county and charter)
• 230,714 students are enrolled in public county schools 
• 4,243 students are enrolled in charter schools (802 in brick and mortar, and 3,441 in virtual)
• 42 students enrolled in the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
• 559 students enrolled in West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition
• 477 Hope Scholarship students (1,336 students served but not funded)

The ten counties that experienced the greatest losses in public education enrollment from the 2024-2025 school year, according to the West Virginia Education Data booklet are: 

• Kanawha County,  -969
• Harrison County,  -429
• Mercer County, -325
• Logan County, -318
• Wood County, -259
• Wayne County,  -236
• Cabell County, -223
• Preston County, -214
• Marion County, -197
• Raleigh County, -197

Greenbrier County has a public school enrollment loss of 174 students, Monroe County has experienced a loss of 46 students, Summers County has experienced a loss of 80 students, Nicholas County has experienced a loss of 183 students, and Pocahontas County has experienced a loss of 60 public school students from last year to this year.

Also, during their meeting, board members received the annual Safety and Security Report, which identifies safety and security measures that must be taken to make public school facilities safe. 

According to Micah Whitlow, school facilities director, schools throughout the state are requesting a total of $252 million in safety and security upgrades.

Information presented in the report shows that a priority one goal is to have safe school entries placed at 232 schools throughout the state. A total of 401 schools have already received safe school entries. The total requested cost for these entries is $52,302,436. 

Additionally, the state has a need for more Prevention and Resource Officers (PROs) and School Resource Officers (SROs) at a total cost of $30,682,000 annually. 

Others items listed as lower priorities that schools statewide need include: 

• Window and door security upgrades at $35,268,500
• Weapon detection systems at $21,721,940
• Security lighting at $6,131,545
• Security barriers at $6,842,500
• “Other” security needs such as county security directors, access controls, etc. at $67,239,055
• Security cameras at $30,336,178