Top Rankings
Mcdowell County Schools 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 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,287 students in Mcdowell County Schools. 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 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 and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
879 Schools
# Students
5,617 Students
493,495 Students
# Teachers
387 Teachers
31,612 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Mcdowell County Schools, 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)
(21-22)51%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)80%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
15%
20%
% Black
3%
25%
% White
76%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,591 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,818 is higher than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,591
$11,192
Spending / Student
$11,818
$11,617
Best Mcdowell County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 6-8 | 196 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: 6-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: 6-8 | 581 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 50:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
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