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 15 public schools serving 5,545 students in Mcdowell County Schools. 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 have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
5,545 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
374 Teachers
96,132 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%)
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
0.42
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
16%
22%
% Black
3%
24%
% White
74%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,742 is higher than the state median of $11,168. 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 $11,592. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,742
$11,168
Spending / Student
$11,972
$11,592
Best Mcdowell County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-13 | 193 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 333 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,379 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #55.
Mcdowell Academy 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
Gr: 9-13 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 230 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 550 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
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%
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 $11,592. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
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