Public schools in Charles Town, WV
6 open public schools with an address in Charles Town, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,404
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.2:1
West Virginia median 13.3:1
Charter schools
1
1 virtual
An overview of Charles Town public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Charles Town, WV: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,404 students, an average of 734 per school. The largest campus is Washington High School (1,458 students), and the largest elementary school is South Jefferson Elementary School (453).
Jefferson County Schools operates the most schools here (5), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
School districts and agencies serving Charles Town
Elementary schools in Charles Town
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page Jackson Elementary Jefferson County Schools | PK–02 | 366 | 17.2:1 | |
| South Jefferson Elementary School Jefferson County Schools | PK–05 | 453 | 17.2:1 | |
| Wright Denny Intermediate School Jefferson County Schools | 03–05 | 376 | 15.7:1 |
Middle schools in Charles Town
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Town Middle School Jefferson County Schools | 06–08 | 603 | 12.3:1 |
High schools in Charles Town
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School Jefferson County Schools | 09–12 | 1,458 | 19.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Charles Town
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 1,148 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White72.9%
- Hispanic12%
- Black5.3%
- Asian1.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Charles Town schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,404 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Charles Town
How many public schools are in Charles Town, WV?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Charles Town: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,404 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Charles Town?
Schools with an address in Charles Town belong to 2 education agencies, led by Jefferson County Schools (5 schools), Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Charles Town?
Washington High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Charles Town, with 1,458 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Charles Town?
Yes. 1 of the 6 public schools in Charles Town are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Charles Town schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Charles Town public schools is 17.2:1, higher than the West Virginia school median of 13.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Charles Town guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby West Virginia cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All West Virginia cities