West Virginia Enrollment Falls 3.5% in 2026–27

West Virginia public schools enrolled 226,687 students in 2026–27, down 8,270, or 3.5%, from the previous year. Enrollment has fallen by more than 23,000 since 2022–23 and by over 46,000, or 17%, in a decade; every county and two of the state’s seven charter schools reported declines. Roane County had the steepest drop at 14.89%, while Jackson and Pleasants counties had the smallest. Possible contributors include the state’s shrinking population and the expanded Hope Scholarship, with more than 25,000 students approved for payments this year, though officials have not identified a definitive cause. The losses are increasing school-budget pressures and disputes over the state funding formula, alongside concerns about school closures and consolidation.