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 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,165 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 49% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
5,545 Students
496,921 Students
# Teachers
374 Teachers
31,042 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 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.
Overall District Rank
#168 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)51%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
63%
Graduation Rate
80%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)31.4%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.42
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
16%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
3%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
74%
43%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,343 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,675 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$80 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$81 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,343
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$14,675
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Mcdowell County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
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 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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 | 550 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: n/an/a
The Summit Academy
Alternative School
75 Crawford St
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1266
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1266
Gr: 6-12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
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