MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — State education officials say there are a number of factors contributing to the continual loss of students in public schools in West Virginia.

Official numbers released by the state Department of Education this week show a 2.2 percent decrease in the past year.

Current enrollment is at 234,957 students for this year compared to more than 250,000 in the 2021-22 school year, a 6.5 percent drop over the last four years.

State Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jeff Kelley said one of the factors is the economy.

“We’ve struggled in the southern coal fields academically since the decline of coal,” Kelley said on MetroNews “Talkline.” “They were partners—the business side was able to support the school system, and the school system was able to produce people

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