West Virginia at a glance
- Kindergarten: Must turn 5 before Sept. 1.
- Compulsory school age: 6 to 17.
- Required instructional time: 180 days.
- Statewide grading scale: yes — high schools statewide (WVBE Policy 2510, from July 2018).
- Remote learning instead of snow days: no statewide rule identified.
Kindergarten entry age
In West Virginia, a child can typically start kindergarten if they are Must turn 5 before Sept. 1. A child born just after the cutoff usually starts a year later — which is why two children born weeks apart can be a full grade apart.
Use the What Grade Am I In? calculator to turn a birthday into a grade level, or compare all states in our kindergarten cutoff table. Source: Education Commission of the States.
School year and attendance
| Rule | West Virginia | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory school age | 6–17 | ECS |
| Minimum instructional days | 180 | ECS (2023) |
| Minimum instructional hours | Not specified | ECS (2023) |
Instructional-time rules decide how many missed days must be made up — the reason a winter with several snow days can push the last day of school later. Count down to yours with the Days Until Summer tool.
Grading scale
West Virginia sets a statewide scale that applies to high schools statewide (WVBE Policy 2510, from July 2018).
| Letter | Percent range |
|---|---|
| A | 90–100 |
| B | 80–89 |
| C | 70–79 |
| D | 60–69 |
| F | 0–59 |
Article (Jan 11, 2018) confirms 90-100 = A and that other bands shift lower, with GPA on a 1.0-4.0 scale. The full B/C/D/F bands come from search-indexed AP copy (woub.org). Current Policy 2510 text not opened. Source. See the West Virginia grading scale page for GPA points and a converter.
Snow days and remote learning
Not verified in this research pass (official site blocked or not reached).
Estimate tomorrow's odds with the Snow Day Calculator.
SAT and ACT scores in West Virginia (class of 2026)
West Virginia's class of 2026 averaged 918 on the SAT with 98% of graduates tested, and 20.2 on the ACT with 16% tested. Nationally the averages were 1045 (SAT) and 19.2 (ACT).
| Measure | West Virginia | U.S. | Rank (of 51) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT participation | 98% | n/a | 5 |
| SAT average total | 918 | 1045 | 50 |
| SAT Reading & Writing / Math | 480 / 438 | 528 / 517 | — |
| SAT total, class of 2025 | 911 | 1029 | — |
| ACT participation | 16% | 38% | 29 |
| ACT average composite | 20.2 | 19.2 | 27 |
Almost every West Virginia graduate takes the SAT (SAT school day for all juniors (state accountability)), so the state average includes students who would not have chosen to test. That is why it sits below states where only college-bound students sit the exam, and why a state ranking says little about school quality. The SAT and ACT scores by state study shows this participation effect across all 50 states and DC. To see where a single score lands, use the SAT score calculator or the ACT score calculator.
Sources: College Board SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report (West Virginia, 2026); ACT 2026 average scores by state. Ranks are among the 50 states and DC.
Free tools for West Virginia families and teachers
- High school GPA calculator and final grade calculator
- AP score calculator for May exams
- EZ Grader and report card comments for teachers
- Homework planner and the 10-minute homework rule
State rules change. Facts were checked against the linked sources on October 14, 2026; confirm with your district or state education department.