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Needs Improvement

#620 of 635 schools in WV

Welch Elementary School

Elementary School · MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

1235 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801

Enrollment

216

Student-Teacher

12.7:1

Score

3.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

West Virginia schools

#620 of 635

In Welch

#2 of 2

public schools

In district

#7 of 9

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

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Welch Elementary School

3.1/10

Elementary School in Welch · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mount View High School

3.2/10

3.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Kimball Elementary School

6.4/10

4.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Welch Elementary School

Welch Elementary School is a public elementary school in Welch, WV, part of MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS. Welch Elementary School serves approximately 216 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Welch Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #620 of 635 schools in WV.

Structured state assessment records for Welch Elementary School show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts below district
  • This school 3.1 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 5.1
  • WV avg 6.6

What Parents Should Know

Welch Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

52% of students at Welch Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-3.83 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.5Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency15.6% (2025 WVGSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency26.1% (2025 WVGSA)
Math vs. State Avg-37.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-20.2 pts
Overall Proficiency21% (2025 WVGSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2025 WVGSA)
vs. Expected-14.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
Resources & Environment4.7Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,682
Chronic Absenteeism51.9%

Welch Elementary School — Students at Welch Elementary School score 21% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores WV WVGSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 19.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.7% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 23.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.3% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 37 test records from WV state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
27%
ELA
17%
2010
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2011
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
17%
ELA
17%
2014
Math
7.5%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
12%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2017
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2018
Math
12%
2019
Math
12%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2024
Math
25.7%
ELA
23.6%
2025
Math
15.6%
ELA
26.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.9/10.

How Welch Elementary School Compares

See how Welch Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.1/10
3th percentile in WV
Academic
2.5/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
4.7/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
51.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1235 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Welch Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Pineville Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Pineville), which scores notably higher. Another option is Fall River Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 7.7 miles away, in nearby Big Sandy), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Iaeger Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 14.0 miles away, in nearby Iaeger), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Welch, see our Welch schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Mount View High School Welch 3.4 mi 3.2
Kimball Elementary School Kimball 4.2 mi 6.4
Pineville Middle School Pineville 8.9 mi 4.4
Pineville Elementary School Pineville 9.0 mi 8.4
Fall River Elementary School Big Sandy 7.7 mi 8.1
Wyoming County East High School New Richmond 9.8 mi 3.4
Baileysville Elementary & Middle School Brenton 11.4 mi 6.5
Southside K-8 War 11.7 mi 2.7
Herndon Cons Elementary & Middle School Bud 11.8 mi 3.9
Sandy River Middle School Avondale 12.6 mi 4.3
Westside High School Clear Fork 15.3 mi 4.3
Mullens Middle School Mullens 14.1 mi 7.3
Mullens Elementary School Mullens 14.6 mi 5.9
Oceana Middle School Oceana 16.7 mi 3.8
Berlin Mckinney Elementary School Oceana 16.8 mi 3.1
Glen Fork Elementary & Middle School Glen Fork 17.1 mi 5.4
Abb's Valley-Boissevain Elementary Boissevain 15.7 mi 5.2
River View High School Bradshaw 14.5 mi 3.9
Bradshaw Elementary School Bradshaw 14.5 mi 3.1
Iaeger Elementary School Iaeger 14.0 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24801 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$29,492

Median Home Value

$52,100

Median Rent

$832/mo

Population

5,107

College Educated

5.8%

Homeownership

73.4%

Poverty Rate

27%

Median Age

41.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bradshaw Elementary School Bradshaw, WV 3.1
Omar Elementary Omar, WV 2.9
Beverly Elementary School Beverly, WV 3.4
Coalton Elementary School Coalton, WV 2.8
Montcalm Elementary School Rock, WV 3.5
Southside K-8 War, WV 2.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Welch Elementary School

What grades does Welch Elementary School serve?

Welch Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Welch Elementary School?

Welch Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 216 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Welch Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Welch Elementary School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Welch Elementary School rank in WV?

Welch Elementary School ranks #620 of 635 schools in WV.

What is Welch Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Welch Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Welch Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Welch Elementary School has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Welch Elementary School a charter school?

No, Welch Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Welch Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Welch Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
2 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
216
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
McDowell County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
51.9%

District

MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS
District Enrollment
2,444
Schools in District
10
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,682
District Rank
#7 of 9

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