Public schools in Parkersburg, WV
17 open public schools with an address in Parkersburg, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,440
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.4:1
West Virginia median 13.3:1
Charter schools
0
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Parkersburg public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Parkersburg, WV: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,440 students, an average of 496 per school. The largest campus is Parkersburg High School (1,491 students), and the largest elementary school is Blennerhassett Elementary School (522).
Every listed school belongs to Wood County Schools. 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 14.4:1, 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 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Parkersburg
Elementary schools in Parkersburg
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blennerhassett Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 522 | 15.4:1 | |
| Criss Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 267 | 14.8:1 | |
| Emerson Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 361 | 12:1 | |
| Franklin Elementary Center Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 262 | 8.7:1 | |
| Gihon Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 261 | 13.1:1 | |
| Jefferson Elementary Center Wood County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 475 | 8.5:1 | |
| Lubeck Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 381 | 14.7:1 | |
| Madison Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 264 | 12:1 | |
| Martin Elementary School Wood County Schools | PK–05 | 250 | 8.9:1 |
Middle schools in Parkersburg
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blennerhassett Middle School Wood County Schools | 06–08 | 534 | 17.8:1 | |
| Edison Middle School Wood County Schools | 06–08 | 551 | 14.5:1 | |
| Hamilton Middle School Wood County Schools | 06–08 | 446 | 14.4:1 |
High schools in Parkersburg
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caperton Center for Applied Technology Wood County Schools · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | — | — | |
| Parkersburg High School Wood County Schools | 09–12 | 1,491 | 17.1:1 | |
| Parkersburg South High School Wood County Schools | 09–12 | 1,373 | 16.3:1 | |
| Wood Co Voc Tech Ctr Wood County Schools · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 2 | 0.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Parkersburg
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Success Center Wood County Schools · Alternative School | KG–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White91.3%
- Hispanic2.1%
- Black1.8%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Parkersburg schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,440 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Parkersburg
How many public schools are in Parkersburg, WV?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Parkersburg: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,440 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Parkersburg?
All listed public schools with an address in Parkersburg belong to Wood County Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Parkersburg?
Parkersburg High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Parkersburg, with 1,491 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Parkersburg?
No school with an address in Parkersburg is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in West Virginia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Parkersburg schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Parkersburg public schools is 14.4:1, 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 Parkersburg 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