Public School Review - Established 2003

Mcdowell High School vs. Mcdowell Early College

Should you attend Mcdowell High School or Mcdowell Early College? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Mcdowell High School
600 Mcdowell High School Dr
Marion, NC 28752
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Mcdowell Early College
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Top Rankings

Mcdowell High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)

Mcdowell Early College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 1,416 students in grades 9-12, Mcdowell High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 70-74% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 47% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is equal to the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black).
Serving 194 students in grades 9-13, Mcdowell Early College ranks in the top 5% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≥80% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is ≥90% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-13
Total Students
1,416 students
194 students
This chart displays total students of Mcdowell High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Mcdowell Early College by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
56% | 44%
45% | 55%
This chart displays gender of Mcdowell High School
This chart displays gender of Mcdowell Early College
Total Classroom Teachers
94 teachers
12 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Mcdowell High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Mcdowell Early College by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
16:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Mcdowell High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Mcdowell Early College and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#814 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Top 50%)
#89 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Top 5%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Mcdowell High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Mcdowell Early College, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
70-74%
(Top 20% in NC)
≥80%
(Top 10% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
(Top 50% in NC)
≥90%
(Top 5% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
49%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
80-89%
(Top 10% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
74%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
≥95%
(Top 5% in NC)
This chart displays graduation rate of Mcdowell High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Mcdowell Early College and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Mcdowell High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Mcdowell Early College by grade.
Grade 9 Students
409
37
Grade 10 Students
335
67
Grade 11 Students
364
52
Grade 12 Students
308
38

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Mcdowell High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
n/a
% Asian
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
16%
19%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
75%
74%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.41
0.42
This chart displays the diversity score of Mcdowell High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Mcdowell Early College and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
57%
46%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Mcdowell High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Mcdowell Early College and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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