West Virginia School Consolidation

School Consolidation
in
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia has adopted one of the most aggressive school consolidation plans. Since 1980 West Virginia has closed nearly 400 schools. State Legislature enacted a School Building Authority that rebuilds and maintains improvements on schools. But only schools that have 1,000 or more students can qualify for these state paid improvements. This clearly puts smaller schools at a disadvantage for upgrades 

Here is some great footage reflecting the harsh realities of school consolidation in the Mountain State

School consolidation in West Virginia is about cost and more efficient use of resources and educational opportunities. However, according to Challenge West Virginia, a statewide organization made up of educators and parents, the cost of educating West Virginian students has increased after consolidation by 16 %, despite the fact that enrollment has dropped 11% statewide. Challenge West Virginia also reports that proponents of consolidation promised to cut administration costs and cut back on salaried positions, but the number of central office administrators has actually increased by 12 % between 1990-2000 even with a smaller number of schools to run.

Transportation costs are the highest cost for schools in West Virginia once consolidation occurred. Bus transportation costs increased by 11 %. West Virginia spends an exorbitant amount of money on transportation costs, in fact, according to “Closing Cost” special report they spend the most money on transportation than any other state in the country. Some students in West Virginia travel over an hour, one way, to schools. West Virginia legislature has issued guidelines for maximum lengths of time that students should be riding the bus, however these are only recommendations and are neither enforced nor mandatory 
Unfortunately, West Virginian students are all TOO familiar with their "Country Roads"....

Drop out rates are high in West Virginia to begin with and drop out rates in large schools are higher than small school. Three in every ten students from West Virginia will not graduate from high school (The Rural School and Community Trust, 2012) and NAEP scores in reading and math are the among the lowest in the nation (Rural School and Community Trust, 2012). Community members were promised an increase in Advanced Placement classes from school officials, however these classes have either been dropped or never existed :(