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Mcdowell County Schools

Item: Mcdowell County Schools
Rating: 5
Author: Public School Review

334 South Main St
Marion, NC 28752-0130

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (828) 652-4535

www.mcdowell.k12.nc.us

Top Rankings

Mcdowell County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

15 Schools

2,732 Schools

# Students

5,545 Students

1,549,380 Students

# Teachers

374 Teachers

96,108 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
Pre-K	274	76
Kind	379	316
1	406	325
2	411	331
3	387	341
4	392	325
5	421	333
6	380	333
7	355	336
8	408	338
9	451	385
10	450	359
11	458	337
12	373	315

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District Rank

Mcdowell County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools
2023	#168
2022	#168
2021	#191
2019	#154
2018	#178
2017	#185
2016	#198
2015	#168
2014	#133
2013	#102
2012	#96

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(21-22)

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2022	51%	51%
2021	35%	42%
2019	38%	42%
2018	37%	48%
2017	40%	47%
2016	36%	47%
2015	37%	44%
2014	37%	43%
2013	40%	42%
2012	85%	82%
2011	84%	82%

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48%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2022	48%	50%
2021	46%	47%
2019	46%	46%
2018	37%	47%
2017	44%	46%
2016	39%	47%
2015	43%	46%
2014	46%	46%
2013	45%	45%
2012	75%	73%
2011	72%	70%

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63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2022	63%	63%
2021	57%	61%

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(21-22)

80%

86%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2022	80%	86%
2021	85%	85%
2020	87%	86%
2019	83%	85%
2018	85%	86%
2017	85%	88%
2016	82%	88%
2015	80%	87%
2014	77%	86%
2013	78%	85%
2012	78%	83%

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(2022-23)

31.4%

28.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	31.4%	28.7%
2022	43%	33.4%
2021	32%	25.4%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.42

0.72

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.40	0.71
2022	0.40	0.70
2021	0.39	0.69
2020	0.37	0.68
2019	0.37	0.68
2018	0.35	0.67
2017	0.35	0.67
2016	0.34	0.66
2015	0.33	0.66
2014	0.34	0.65
2013	0.34	0.65
2012	0.34	0.64
2011	0.34	0.64
2010	0.29	0.61
2009	0.27	0.61
2008	0.26	0.61
2007	0.25	0.60
2006	0.24	0.58
2005	0.24	0.58
2004	0.22	0.57
2003	0.22	0.56
2002	0.20	0.55
2001	0.20	0.53
2000	0.17	0.53
1999	0.17	0.52
1998	0.15	0.52
1997	0.14	0.50
1996	0.12	0.50
1995	0.12	0.49
1994	0.12	0.48
1993	0.12	0.48
1992	0.12	0.48
1991	0.12	0.48

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% American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2008-2011)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2011	1%	2%
2008	1%	2%

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% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	1%	4%
2022	2%	4%
2021	1%	4%
2020	1%	3%
2019	1%	3%
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	1%	3%
2013	1%	3%
2012	1%	3%
2011	1%	2%
2010	2%	3%
2009	2%	2%
2008	2%	3%
2007	3%	3%
2006	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%
2003	2%	2%
2002	2%	2%
2001	3%	2%
2000	2%	2%
1999	3%	2%
1998	2%	2%
1997	2%	1%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

16%

22%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	15%	20%
2022	14%	20%
2021	14%	19%
2020	14%	18%
2019	14%	18%
2018	14%	17%
2017	14%	17%
2016	13%	16%
2015	12%	16%
2014	11%	15%
2013	11%	14%
2012	11%	13%
2011	11%	13%
2010	9%	11%
2009	8%	11%
2008	8%	11%
2007	8%	10%
2006	7%	8%
2005	6%	8%
2004	5%	7%
2003	5%	6%
2002	4%	5%
2001	3%	4%
2000	2%	4%
1999	1%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%

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% Black

24%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	3%	25%
2022	3%	25%
2021	4%	25%
2020	3%	25%
2019	3%	25%
2018	3%	26%
2017	3%	26%
2016	3%	26%
2015	3%	26%
2014	3%	26%
2013	3%	26%
2012	3%	26%
2011	3%	26%
2010	5%	31%
2009	5%	31%
2008	3%	29%
2007	3%	29%
2006	5%	32%
2005	5%	31%
2004	5%	31%
2003	5%	31%
2002	5%	31%
2001	5%	31%
2000	5%	31%
1999	5%	31%
1998	5%	30%
1997	5%	31%
1996	5%	31%
1995	5%	30%
1994	5%	30%
1993	5%	30%
1992	5%	30%
1991	5%	30%

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% White

74%

42%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	76%	44%
2022	76%	45%
2021	77%	46%
2020	78%	48%
2019	78%	48%
2018	79%	49%
2017	79%	49%
2016	80%	50%
2015	81%	50%
2014	81%	51%
2013	81%	52%
2012	81%	53%
2011	81%	53%
2010	84%	54%
2009	85%	54%
2008	86%	55%
2007	86%	56%
2006	86%	56%
2005	87%	57%
2004	88%	58%
2003	88%	59%
2002	89%	60%
2001	89%	61%
2000	91%	61%
1999	91%	62%
1998	92%	63%
1997	92%	64%
1996	93%	64%
1995	94%	65%
1994	94%	66%
1993	94%	66%
1992	94%	66%
1991	94%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	5%	6%
2022	5%	5%
2021	4%	5%
2020	4%	5%
2019	4%	5%
2018	3%	4%
2017	3%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	3%	4%
2014	4%	4%
2013	4%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,742 is higher than the state median of $11,170. The school district revenue/student has declined by 8% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $11,972 is higher than the state median of $11,594. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$65 MM

$17,307 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$65 MM	$8 MM
2022	$76 MM	$8 MM
2021	$65 MM	$8 MM
2020	$76 MM	$8 MM
2019	$66 MM	$8 MM
2018	$61 MM	$8 MM
2017	$60 MM	$8 MM
2016	$57 MM	$8 MM
2015	$59 MM	$18 MM
2014	$56 MM	$10 MM
2012	$57 MM	$17 MM
2011	$58 MM	$19 MM
2010	$59 MM	$18 MM
2009	$56 MM	$19 MM
2008	$56 MM	$18 MM
2007	$53 MM	$18 MM
2006	$49 MM	$15 MM
2005	$46 MM	$15 MM
2004	$49 MM	$17 MM
2003	$44 MM	$17 MM
2002	$45 MM	$16 MM
2001	$48 MM	$17 MM
2000	$44 MM	$20 MM
1999	$36 MM	$23 MM
1998	$36 MM	$26 MM
1997	$32 MM	$34 MM
1996	$30 MM	$34 MM
1995	$29 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$66 MM

$17,964 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$66 MM	$8 MM
2022	$79 MM	$8 MM
2021	$66 MM	$8 MM
2020	$79 MM	$8 MM
2019	$68 MM	$7 MM
2018	$63 MM	$8 MM
2017	$62 MM	$9 MM
2016	$61 MM	$8 MM
2015	$60 MM	$18 MM
2014	$58 MM	$11 MM
2012	$58 MM	$16 MM
2011	$59 MM	$17 MM
2010	$60 MM	$18 MM
2009	$58 MM	$18 MM
2008	$54 MM	$17 MM
2007	$51 MM	$18 MM
2006	$47 MM	$15 MM
2005	$46 MM	$15 MM
2004	$48 MM	$16 MM
2003	$44 MM	$17 MM
2002	$43 MM	$15 MM
2001	$48 MM	$17 MM
2000	$44 MM	$20 MM
1999	$35 MM	$24 MM
1998	$35 MM	$26 MM
1997	$31 MM	$36 MM
1996	$30 MM	$33 MM
1995	$29 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$11,742

$11,170

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$11,355	$10,093
2022	$12,838	$9,918
2021	$11,419	$10,282
2020	$12,838	$9,918
2019	$11,114	$9,125
2018	$10,030	$9,419
2017	$9,684	$10,522
2016	$9,201	$9,128
2015	$9,356	$10,864
2014	$8,952	$9,046
2012	$8,438	$10,562
2011	$8,629	$12,703
2010	$8,740	$10,864
2009	$8,449	$11,105
2008	$8,622	$11,767
2007	$8,130	$9,479
2006	$7,500	$9,335
2005	$7,145	$8,913
2004	$7,628	$8,734
2003	$6,732	$8,577
2002	$7,056	$8,130
2001	$7,374	$7,294
2000	$6,872	$7,636
1999	$5,686	$7,252
1998	$5,683	$5,688
1997	$5,096	$5,690
1995	$4,734	$5,545
1992	$4,499	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$11,972

$11,594

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Mcdowell County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$11,577	$9,807
2022	$13,298	$9,654
2021	$11,642	$9,990
2020	$13,298	$9,654
2019	$11,480	$8,949
2018	$10,361	$9,637
2017	$9,996	$11,583
2016	$9,801	$9,753
2015	$9,626	$10,591
2014	$9,126	$9,388
2012	$8,649	$10,336
2011	$8,752	$11,927
2010	$8,993	$10,591
2009	$8,765	$10,880
2008	$8,229	$11,136
2007	$7,847	$9,418
2006	$7,213	$8,813
2005	$7,073	$8,647
2004	$7,488	$8,413
2003	$6,768	$8,886
2002	$6,762	$7,903
2001	$7,346	$7,301
2000	$6,810	$7,650
1999	$5,467	$7,340
1998	$5,632	$5,663
1997	$5,040	$6,040
1995	$4,689	$5,570
1992	$5,001	$4,725

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Mcdowell County Schools?

Mcdowell County Schools manages 15 public schools serving 5,545 students.

What is the rank of Mcdowell County Schools?

Mcdowell County Schools is ranked #168 out of 314 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?

74% of Mcdowell County Schools students are White, 16% of students are Hispanic, 6% 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?

Mcdowell County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.

What is Mcdowell County Schools's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $11,972 is higher than the state median of $11,594. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 15 schools
Grades: PK-13
Enrollment: 5,545 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 26%
: 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