Is Bluefield High School a good school?

Bluefield High School ranks 82 nd of 112 West Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Bluefield High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 639 students attended Bluefield High School.

What is the racial makeup of Bluefield High School?

Students at Bluefield High School are 65% White, 25% African American, 9% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Bluefield High School?

Bluefield High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bluefield Intermediate School Elementary : Brushfork Elementary School Elementary : Mountain Valley Elementary School Middle : Bluefield Middle School

Bluefield High School

Summary:

Bluefield High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Bluefield, West Virginia, with a student population of 608 as of the 2022-2023 school year. While the school is part of the Mercer County Schools district, which is ranked 24th out of 55 school districts in the state, Bluefield High School has faced unique challenges that have impacted its academic performance and overall school ranking.

One key differentiator for Bluefield High School is its racial diversity, with a student population that is 66.28% White, 24.67% African American, and a small but notable Hispanic (1.64%) and Asian (0.16%) presence. This diversity is not as pronounced in nearby schools like Pikeview High School and Montcalm High School, which have student populations that are over 90% White. However, Bluefield High School's academic performance, as measured by the percentage of students proficient or better in the West Virginia Assessments, is generally lower than the Mercer County Schools district average and the state average.

Bluefield High School's statewide ranking and SchoolDigger rating have fluctuated over the years, but have generally been on the lower end, with the school ranking 82nd out of 112 West Virginia high schools and receiving a 1-star rating in the 2023-2024 school year. This is in contrast to the nearby Pikeview High School and Princeton Senior High School, which have higher rankings and ratings. Additionally, Bluefield High School's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with the school's White students performing relatively well, but its African American students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds ranking much lower.

Detail:

Public 9-12

535 W Cumberland Rd
Bluefield, WV 24701-4654

(304) 325-9116

District: Mercer County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
82^nd of 112 West Virginia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,350

Feeder schools for Bluefield High School:

Elementary:	Bluefield Intermediate School
	Brushfork Elementary School
	Mountain Valley Elementary School
Middle:	Bluefield Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.2

Number of students: 639

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.9%

African American:

24.6%

Two or more races:

8.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 59.4%

See top rated West Virginia high schools

Compare Bluefield High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bluefield High School ranks worse than 73.2% of high schools in West Virginia. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked high schools in the Mercer County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 28.06. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Bluefield High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64.9%), African American (24.6%), two or more races (8.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bluefield High School is 18.2. 3 high schools in the Mercer County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Bluefield High School employs 35 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bluefield High School is $11,350, which is the 2^nd highest among 4 high schools in the Mercer County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bluefield High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bluefield High School 82^nd of 112 West Virginia public high schools. (See Bluefield High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Mercer County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Mercer County Schools 24^th of 55 West Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Bluefield High School

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Rank History for all students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2009	56.52	46^th	111	58.6%
2010	37.87	78^th	112	30.4%
2011	35.70	84^th	113	25.7%
2012	31.88	83^rd	113	26.5%
2013	52.25	51^st	114	55.3%
2014	48.65	45^th	115	60.9%
2015	40.21	71^st	117	39.3%
2016	54.19	47^th	119	60.5%
2017	61.71	40^th	122	67.2%
2018	17.93	101^st	115	12.2%
2019	30.88	81^st	114	28.9%
2021	55.66	47^th	113	58.4%
2022	47.73	53^rd	112	52.7%
2023	23.99	91^st	112	18.8%
2024	28.06	82^nd	112	26.8%

See the entire list of West Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	43.92	34^th	62	45.2%
2024	22.34	15^th	18	16.7%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	28.94	23^rd	38	39.5%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	45.77	62^nd	118	47.5%
2018	32.79	69^th	103	33.0%
2019	17.34	77^th	85	9.4%
2023	39.86	52^nd	89	41.6%
2024	34.92	57^th	89	36.0%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	74.79	18^th	121	85.1%
2018	25.43	91^st	112	18.8%
2021	53.37	52^nd	111	53.2%
2022	40.05	73^rd	109	33.0%
2023	15.24	96^th	107	10.3%
2024	22.46	91^st	110	17.3%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	57.39	50^th	119	58.0%
2018	14.32	102^nd	111	8.1%
2019	22.61	93^rd	109	14.7%
2021	36.14	70^th	110	36.4%
2022	44.60	61^st	108	43.5%
2023	26.38	84^th	108	22.2%
2024	20.94	93^rd	110	15.5%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	47.34	38^th	84	54.8%
2022	43.19	52^nd	91	42.9%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	62.54	38^th	122	68.9%
2018	25.92	84^th	111	24.3%
2019	44.15	64^th	109	41.3%
2021	67.57	31^st	110	71.8%
2022	50.04	56^th	108	48.1%
2023	23.92	89^th	108	17.6%
2024	39.87	64^th	109	41.3%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	58.50	21^st	82	74.4%
2018	21.56	27^th	31	12.9%
2019	18.60	21^st	23	8.7%
2021	38.45	11^th	16	31.3%
2022	28.86	14^th	18	22.2%
2023	7.22	15^th	15	0.0%
2024	13.59	21^st	22	4.5%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	56.64	18^th	59	69.5%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bluefield High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	75.04	22^nd	122	82.0%
2018	35.80	72^nd	113	36.3%
2019	63.20	39^th	112	65.2%
2021	73.55	26^th	113	77.0%
2022	66.48	34^th	111	69.4%
2023	40.79	65^th	112	42.0%
2024	55.73	48^th	111	56.8%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: West Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: West Virginia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Bluefield High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	819	819
1990	599	146	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	746
1991	551	145	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	696
1992	522	124	3	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	652
1993	523	129	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	654
1994	490	131	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	625
1995	608	209	5	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	829
1996	608	209	5	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	829
1997	591	180	1	4	2	n/a	n/a	0	778
1998	596	173	3	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	779
1999	570	175	3	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	755
2000	587	182	3	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	776
2001	558	178	2	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	741
2002	531	163	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	696
2003	531	163	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	696
2004	498	148	2	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	651
2005	493	158	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	655
2006	487	166	3	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	658
2007	494	161	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	659
2008	505	145	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	656
2009	481	161	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	646
2010	513	170	1	0	1	0	0	0	685
2011	517	166	1	2	6	0	0	0	692
2012	515	174	1	5	5	1	5	0	706
2013	539	170	1	8	2	0	14	0	734
2014	489	152	1	8	1	0	18	0	669
2015	492	159	0	9	3	0	27	0	690
2016	488	158	0	9	1	0	19	0	675
2017	452	185	0	5	1	0	19	0	662
2018	433	181	0	6	1	1	14	0	636
2019	415	175	0	6	1	0	12	0	609
2020	410	152	1	7	0	0	15	0	585
2021	414	148	1	8	0	0	28	0	599
2022	435	145	2	9	0	0	40	0	631
2023	403	150	1	10	0	0	44	0	608
2024	415	157	1	9	0	0	57	0	639

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bluefield High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	819	46.0	17.8	n/a
1990	746	46.0	16.2	18.9
1991	696	44.3	15.7	21.8
1992	652	41.0	15.9	20.1
1993	654	39.0	16.8	29.1
1994	625	38.0	16.4	20.8
1995	829	47.0	17.6	31.4
1996	829	47.0	17.6	31.4
1997	778	45.5	17.1	31
1998	779	45.5	17.1	30.2
1999	755	46.0	16.4	31.1
2000	776	46.5	16.7	36.5
2001	741	48.5	15.3	37.2
2002	696	46.0	15.1	41.8
2003	696	46.0	15.1	41.8
2004	651	47.0	13.9	42.9
2005	655	49.0	13.4	44.6
2006	658	47.5	13.9	51.8
2007	659	47.5	13.9	51.9
2008	656	47.0	14.0	52.4
2009	646	48.0	13.5	54.5
2010	685	47.0	14.5	57.4
2011	692	46.6	14.8	63.3
2012	706	49.0	14.4	65
2013	734	49.0	14.9	63.5
2014	669	46.5	14.3	n/a
2015	690	43.0	16.0	42.8
2016	675	43.0	15.6	48.6
2017	662	45.0	14.7	47.1
2018	636	41.5	15.3	64.9
2019	609	38.0	16.0	60.1
2020	585	36.0	16.2	62.6
2021	599	36.0	16.6	59.4
2022	631	37.0	17.0	n/a
2023	608	35.0	17.3	n/a
2024	639	35.0	18.2	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bluefield High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	819	46.0	17.8	n/a
1990	746	46.0	16.2	18.9
1991	696	44.3	15.7	21.8
1992	652	41.0	15.9	20.1
1993	654	39.0	16.8	29.1
1994	625	38.0	16.4	20.8
1995	829	47.0	17.6	31.4
1996	829	47.0	17.6	31.4
1997	778	45.5	17.1	31
1998	779	45.5	17.1	30.2
1999	755	46.0	16.4	31.1
2000	776	46.5	16.7	36.5
2001	741	48.5	15.3	37.2
2002	696	46.0	15.1	41.8
2003	696	46.0	15.1	41.8
2004	651	47.0	13.9	42.9
2005	655	49.0	13.4	44.6
2006	658	47.5	13.9	51.8
2007	659	47.5	13.9	51.9
2008	656	47.0	14.0	52.4
2009	646	48.0	13.5	54.5
2010	685	47.0	14.5	57.4
2011	692	46.6	14.8	63.3
2012	706	49.0	14.4	65
2013	734	49.0	14.9	63.5
2014	669	46.5	14.3	n/a
2015	690	43.0	16.0	42.8
2016	675	43.0	15.6	48.6
2017	662	45.0	14.7	47.1
2018	636	41.5	15.3	64.9
2019	609	38.0	16.0	60.1
2020	585	36.0	16.2	62.6
2021	599	36.0	16.6	59.4
2022	631	37.0	17.0	n/a
2023	608	35.0	17.3	n/a
2024	639	35.0	18.2	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bluefield High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,108 (9.8%)	$10,241 (90.2%)	$11,350

Data source: West Virginia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bluefield High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 81^st of 114 High schools	Ranks 91^st of 112 High schools	10.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Mathematics (Bluefield High School)	20.7	15	5.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Mercer County Schools)	24.1	18	6.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (West Virginia)	24	21.5	2.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Bluefield High School)	43	36.7	6.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Mercer County Schools)	50.6	38.2	12.4%
11th Grade English Language Arts (West Virginia)	51.8	49.9	1.9%
11th Grade Science (Bluefield High School)	20.7	18.3	2.4%
11th Grade Science (Mercer County Schools)	28.5	18	10.5%
11th Grade Science (West Virginia)	29.2	27.9	1.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	609	608	0.2%
African American	175	150	14.3%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	6	10	66.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	415	403	2.9%
Two or More Races	12	44	266.7%

Schools Near Bluefield High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				WV Assessment Mathematics (2024)			WV Assessment English Language Arts (2024)			WV Assessment Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WV Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 11th Grade	WV Assessment Science 8th Grade	WV Assessment Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bluefield High School	Public	9-12	535 W Cumberland Rd	Bluefield	24701	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 325-9116	639	35	18.2		415 (64.9%)	157 (24.6%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (8.9%)	28.1	82^nd of 112 public high schools	26.8%		24	91^st of 112 public high schools	18.8%	9			11.1			42.9		18.3	$11,350	$1,108	$10,241
Montcalm High School	Public	7-12	5366 Simmons River Rd	Rock	24701	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 589-3719	282	19	14.8		270 (95.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.9%)	18.6	94^th of 112 public high schools	16.1%		7.3	109^th of 112 public high schools	2.7%	15	25.0	13.0	14.3	27.8	37.8	25.7	28.9	14.3	$11,449	$1,673	$9,777
Mercer County Technical Education Center	Public	9-12	1397 Stafford Dr	Princeton	24740	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 425-9551	0	22	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Princeton Senior High School	Public	9-12	1321 Stafford Dr	Princeton	24740	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 425-8101	967	55	17.5		809 (83.7%)	69 (7.1%)	15 (1.6%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (6.9%)	57.4	44^th of 112 public high schools	60.7%		36.4	70^th of 112 public high schools	37.5%	26			27.5			45.1		22.3	$10,088	$978	$9,110
Pikeview High School	Public	9-12	3566 Eads Mill Rd	Princeton	24739	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 384-7586	610	33	18.4		579 (94.9%)	6 (1.0%)	12 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.1%)	55.5	47^th of 112 public high schools	58.0%		37	68^th of 112 public high schools	39.3%	21			19.7			47.9		23.9	$11,216	$1,150	$10,065

Bluefield High School

Bluefield High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Mercer County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Bluefield High School

Rank History for all students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Female students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Male students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for African American students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bluefield High School

Rank History for White students at Bluefield High School

Enrollment information for Bluefield High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bluefield High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Bluefield High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bluefield High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Bluefield High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Bluefield High School