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 2024-25 school year, there are 15 public schools serving 5,734 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 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,746 Schools
# Students
5,734 Students
1,541,323 Students
# Teachers
397 Teachers
98,777 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Mcdowell County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 321 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
0.40
0.71
# American Indian Students
11 Students
17,548 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
53 Students
61,664 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
860 Students
314,590 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
20%
# Black Students
184 Students
382,022 Students
% Black Students
3%
25%
# White Students
4,393 Students
678,903 Students
% White Students
76%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
2,174 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
270 Students
86,155 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
207
22,539
# Students in K Grade:
407
111,274
# Students in 1st Grade:
412
116,694
# Students in 2nd Grade:
394
110,703
# Students in 3rd Grade:
426
113,225
# Students in 4th Grade:
400
114,192
# Students in 5th Grade:
375
114,885
# Students in 6th Grade:
407
115,571
# Students in 7th Grade:
443
117,762
# Students in 8th Grade:
451
122,335
# Students in 9th Grade:
500
139,774
# Students in 10th Grade:
439
128,053
# Students in 11th Grade:
482
111,043
# Students in 12th Grade:
391
103,273
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,355 is higher than the state median of $11,229. The school district revenue/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,577 is less than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,355
$11,229
Spending / Student
$11,577
$11,655
Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Mcdowell Early College
Magnet School
(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
| 194 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
| 188 students
Rank: #33.
Marion Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 355 students
Rank: #44.
Mcdowell High School
Magnet 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
| 1,416 students
Rank: #55.
Mcdowell Academy For Innovation
Magnet School
(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
| 102 students
Rank: #66.
Old Fort Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 316 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
| 266 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Nebo Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 339 students
Rank: #99.
Glenwood Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 437 students
Rank: #1010.
North Cove Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 227 students
Rank: #1111.
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 304 students
Rank: #1212.
East Mcdowell Middle School
Magnet 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
| 468 students
Rank: #1313.
West Mcdowell Middle School
Magnet 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
| 605 students
Rank: #1414.
West Marion Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 377 students
Rank: #1515.
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
Magnet School
(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
| 140 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District manages 15 public schools serving 5,734 students.
What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District is ranked #171 out of 321 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 14:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Mcdowell County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,577 is less than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
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