Top Rankings
Mcdowell County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 16 public schools serving 5,617 students in Mcdowell County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Mcdowell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
5,617 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
387 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Mcdowell County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#168 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
63%
Graduation Rate
80%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.71
# American Indian Students
10 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
49 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
854 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
21%
# Black Students
175 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
3%
25%
# White Students
4,272 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
76%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
299 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
209
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
390
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
400
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
409
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
399
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
423
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
405
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
365
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
407
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
437
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
442
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
475
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
404
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
452
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,591 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,818 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,591
$11,187
Spending / Student
$11,818
$11,612
Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Mcdowell Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Grades: 9-13
| 198 students
Rank: #22.
Foothills Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Grades: 6-8
| 196 students
Rank: #33.
Marion Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
209 Robert Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-2141
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-2141
Grades: PK-5
| 356 students
Rank: #44.
Mcdowell High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 Mcdowell High School Dr
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7920
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7920
Grades: 9-12
| 1,384 students
Rank: #55.
Mcdowell Academy For Innovation
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Grades: 9-13
| 113 students
Rank: #66.
Old Fort Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
128 Mauney Avenue
Old Fort, NC 28762
(828) 668-7646
Old Fort, NC 28762
(828) 668-7646
Grades: PK-5
| 319 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
170 Eastfield School Road
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3730
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3730
Grades: PK-5
| 274 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Nebo Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
254 Nebo School Road
Nebo, NC 28761
(828) 652-4737
Nebo, NC 28761
(828) 652-4737
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #99.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1545 Old Hwy 221 South
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 738-4220
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 738-4220
Grades: PK-5
| 429 students
Rank: #1010.
North Cove Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
401 American Thread Road
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 756-4342
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 756-4342
Grades: PK-5
| 221 students
Rank: #1111.
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
100 John Roach Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 724-4422
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 724-4422
Grades: PK-5
| 309 students
Rank: #1212.
East Mcdowell Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
676 State Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7711
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7711
Grades: 6-8
| 411 students
Rank: #1313.
West Mcdowell Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
346 West Mcdowell Junior High
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Grades: 6-8
| 581 students
Rank: #1414.
West Marion Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
820 Marler Road
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 738-3353
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 738-3353
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #1515.
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
346 West Mcdowell Junior High
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Grades: 6-12
| 99 students
Rank: n/an/a
The Summit Academy
Alternative School
75 Crawford St
Marion, NC 28752
(919) 807-3300
Marion, NC 28752
(919) 807-3300
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District manages 16 public schools serving 5,617 students.
What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District is ranked #171 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Mcdowell County Schools School District?
76% of Mcdowell County Schools School District students are White, 15% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Mcdowell County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,818 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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