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 4 public middle schools serving 1,401 students in Mcdowell County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Mcdowell County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
5,734 Students
493,896 Students
# Teachers
397 Teachers
31,100 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
0.70
# American Indian Students
11 Students
6,003 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
53 Students
18,716 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
860 Students
96,486 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
20%
# Black Students
184 Students
125,086 Students
% Black Students
3%
25%
# White Students
4,393 Students
218,677 Students
% White Students
76%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
670 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
270 Students
28,268 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
207
1,826
# Students in K Grade:
407
16,153
# Students in 1st Grade:
412
16,577
# Students in 2nd Grade:
394
16,245
# Students in 3rd Grade:
426
16,294
# Students in 4th Grade:
400
16,783
# Students in 5th Grade:
375
19,115
# Students in 6th Grade:
407
111,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
443
117,759
# Students in 8th Grade:
451
122,333
# Students in 9th Grade:
500
12,003
# Students in 10th Grade:
439
10,323
# Students in 11th Grade:
482
9,084
# Students in 12th Grade:
391
8,255
# 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 Middle Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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
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