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Public school districts across West Virginia know they are facing significant challenges -- so much so that they launched the "I Love WV Public Schools" campaign to boost support. Funding woes are a big part of the problem. And certainly, some public school administrators have not been shy about placing part of the blame for that on the ways in which lawmakers have allowed Hope Scholarship money to be spent.
At the risk of kicking when a system is down, then, lawmakers should also take note of WalletHub's "States with the best and worst school systems (2026)," which places West Virginia 47th. Not quite dead last, but low enough that it SHOULD shame some politicians into dropping the socio-cultural crusades and focusing on doing better for ALL Mountain State students.
West Virginia is also 47th for the high rate of bullying incidences, and falls to 48th when the survey zeroes in on math test scores and overall quality; 49th for reading test scores; and 50th for median SAT score.
On the other hand, the state school system has the fourth LOWEST dropout rate, and ranks 21st for safety.
Ohioans must not get smug as they look across the river, however. The Buckeye State ranks 36th overall -- 38th for quality and 33rd for safety.
"Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn't guarantee success," wrote WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum. In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for."
That's a lot on the shoulders of public school systems as they struggle to meet requirements others can simply ignore.
Both states are dealing with a plague of state lawmakers more focused on achieving their own agendas than supporting public schools and absolutely bent on ignoring the funding challenges they are creating.
But West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty is right on two counts: lawmakers MUST fairly modernize the school aid funding formula; and county public school districts are going to have to get over the fact that charter schools are here to stay.
"We are competing for enrollment whether we want to believe it or not," he said.
And the potential pool from which that enrollment will come is shrinking by the day. That trend may be here to stay, too.
Still, school districts seem determined to hold up their end of the pact the state has with its students and families. While they make sure they are running the tightest, most effective ship possible, lawmakers MUST figure out how to turn theirs around.