Applications Roll In from Across the Mountain State — Spots Still Available for ALMBS 2026

The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State is taking shape for its 87th annual session, with 220 high school juniors from 38 of West Virginia’s 55 counties already submitting applications to attend the week-long leadership academy at WVU Jackson’s Mill this June.

Applicants come from 64 schools stretching from the Northern Panhandle to the southern coalfields, with strong showings in north-central West Virginia. Marion County leads the state with 26 applicants, followed closely by Harrison and Monongalia counties with 20 each. Bridgeport High School currently holds the top spot among individual schools with 13 applicants, followed by Fairmont Senior High School and Morgantown High School (12 each), and Keyser High School (11).

The map below shows where this year’s class is coming from so far—each marker representing a school and the number of students who have applied from it.

Spots Still Available

Selection for ALMBS is competitive, but the program still has openings for qualified juniors who want to spend a week learning how city, county, and state government actually work—by running it themselves. Applicants build mock governments from the ground up, run for office, draft and debate legislation, argue cases, and meet with current officeholders and community leaders.

Eligible students can apply online at https://apply.wvboysstate.org. Sponsorships may be available for students who need financial support; contact the program at almbs@wvboysstate.org to discuss options.

Counties not yet represented in the 2026 class include Calhoun, Clay, Grant, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Monroe, Morgan, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Summers, Tucker, Upshur, Webster, and Wirt. Students, parents, school counselors, and American Legion Posts in those counties are especially encouraged to spread the word.

The 87th session of The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State runs June 7–13, 2026, at WVU Jackson’s Mill.

Map updated: 5/9/2026 1:17AM