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 12 public elementary schools serving 3,835 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), 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 elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
5,545 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
374 Teachers
71,767 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 Elementary 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 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
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: #33.
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: #4 - 54. - 5.
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: #4 - 54. - 5.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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%
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