Raleigh County Board Votes 4-1 to Close Two Elementary Schools

The Raleigh County Board of Education voted 4-1 to close Cranberry-Prosperity and Mabscott elementary schools at the end of the 2026-27 school year, with Marsha Smith dissenting. Cranberry-Prosperity students will be reassigned to Bradley, Maxwell Hill and Stanaford, while Mabscott students will attend Crescent or Hollywood; Hollywood’s Severe Disabilities Program will move to Beckley Elementary. District officials cite declining enrollment and budget pressures, including a loss of more than 2,200 students over the past decade, and estimate the closures will save about $1.1 million annually. Parents and community members have voiced concerns about the loss of neighborhood schools and the effect on students, and the plans may still require approval from the West Virginia Board of Education.