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 school year, there are 15 public schools serving 5,824 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 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 55% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,752 Schools
# Students
5,824 Students
1,524,291 Students
# Teachers
411 Teachers
100,983 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Mcdowell County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 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
0.39
0.70
# American Indian Students
12 Students
17,561 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
53 Students
58,380 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
843 Students
302,316 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
20%
# Black Students
192 Students
380,019 Students
% Black Students
3%
25%
# White Students
4,500 Students
684,977 Students
% White Students
77%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
2,197 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
276 Students
79,811 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
218
21,304
# Students in K Grade:
419
112,495
# Students in 1st Grade:
389
108,688
# Students in 2nd Grade:
433
111,859
# Students in 3rd Grade:
402
112,431
# Students in 4th Grade:
384
113,015
# Students in 5th Grade:
420
113,863
# Students in 6th Grade:
459
116,205
# Students in 7th Grade:
458
121,315
# Students in 8th Grade:
494
123,350
# Students in 9th Grade:
457
142,947
# Students in 10th Grade:
533
119,163
# Students in 11th Grade:
416
110,398
# Students in 12th Grade:
342
97,258
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,179 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,354. The school district revenue/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,398 is less than the state median of $11,785. The school district spending/student has declined by 14% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,179
$11,354
Spending / Student
$11,398
$11,785
Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Schools (2024)
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
| 209 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
| 182 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
| 360 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
| 1,363 students
Rank: #55.
Mcdowell 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
| 95 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
| 312 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
| 263 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
| 352 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
| 443 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
| 220 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
| 296 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
| 531 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
| 648 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
| 375 students
Rank: #1515.
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-4535
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-4535
Grades: K-12
| 175 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District manages 15 public schools serving 5,824 students.
What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools School District?
Mcdowell County Schools School District is ranked #170 out of 325 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?
77% of Mcdowell County Schools School District students are White, 14% 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 15:1.
What is Mcdowell County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,398 is less than the state median of $11,785. The school district spending/student has declined by 14% over four school years.
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