Mcdowell County Schools School District

334 South Main St
Marion, NC 28752-0130
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

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 4 public middle schools serving 1,536 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 47%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 55% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
5,824 Students
493,036 Students
# Teachers
411 Teachers
31,852 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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#168 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Mcdowell County Schools  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
51%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
48%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mcdowell County Schools  School District 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.
63%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
80%
86%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.39
0.70
# American Indian Students
12 Students
6,081 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
53 Students
17,720 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
843 Students
93,969 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
19%
# Black Students
192 Students
126,147 Students
% Black Students
3%
26%
# White Students
4,500 Students
221,858 Students
% White Students
77%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
704 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
276 Students
25,696 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
218
1,655
# Students in K Grade:
419
15,881
# Students in 1st Grade:
389
15,628
# Students in 2nd Grade:
433
15,807
# Students in 3rd Grade:
402
15,937
# Students in 4th Grade:
384
15,972
# Students in 5th Grade:
420
18,686
# Students in 6th Grade:
459
111,500
# Students in 7th Grade:
458
121,315
# Students in 8th Grade:
494
123,349
# Students in 9th Grade:
457
11,186
# Students in 10th Grade:
533
9,855
# Students in 11th Grade:
416
8,836
# Students in 12th Grade:
342
7,429
# 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
This chart displays total spending of Mcdowell County Schools  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$11,179
$11,354
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Mcdowell County Schools  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$11,398
$11,785
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Mcdowell County Schools  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Mcdowell County Schools School District Public Middle Schools (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Foothills Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Grades: 6-8
| 182 students
Rank: #22.
East Mcdowell Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
676 State Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7711
Grades: 6-8
| 531 students
Rank: #33.
West Mcdowell Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
346 West Mcdowell Junior High
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Grades: 6-8
| 648 students
Rank: #44.
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-4535
Grades: K-12
| 175 students

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • District size: 15 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 5,824 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 23%
  • : 80% (Btm 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 51% (Top 50%)
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 63% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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