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 4 public high schools serving 1,794 students in Mcdowell County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Mcdowell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Mcdowell County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 79%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Mcdowell Early College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
5,617 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
387 Teachers
33,453 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
0.70
# American Indian Students
10 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
49 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
854 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
20%
# Black Students
175 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
3%
24%
# White Students
4,272 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
76%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
299 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
209
491
# Students in K Grade:
390
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
400
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
409
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
399
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
423
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
405
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
365
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
407
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
437
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
442
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
475
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
404
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
452
104,750
# 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 High 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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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
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