Mcdowell County Schools School District
School District · Marion, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
15
8 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
5,661
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
15
8 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
5,661
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#50 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,112
+$0 vs North Carolina median
District size
5,661 students
Typical than North Carolina median
The short answer
Mcdowell County Schools ranks #50 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Mcdowell County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Mcdowell Academy for Innovation (8.3/10), Nebo Elementary School (8.2/10), and Pleasant Gardens Elementary School (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.3/10 despite 98% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Mcdowell County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Mcdowell County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Mcdowell County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mcdowell Academy for Innovation | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Nebo Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Pleasant Gardens Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Mcdowell Early College | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Foothills Community School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Old Fort Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Mcdowell High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | West Mcdowell Middle School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | East Mcdowell Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Eastfield Global Magnet School | 6.3 / 10 |
See all 15 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Mcdowell County Schools
Mcdowell County Schools is a Marion, North Carolina school district serving 15 schools.The district educates 5,661 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. District-level spending was $13,112 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Mcdowell County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Mcdowell Academy for Innovation, which has a composite score of 8.3/10.
In standardized testing, Mcdowell County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 53.6% and ELA proficiency of 52.4%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Mcdowell County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Mcdowell County Schools with test data.
Schools in Mcdowell County Schools
15 schoolsElementary Schools8
Middle Schools3
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Marion
- Total Enrollment
- 5,661
- Teachers (FTE)
- 392
- District spending per student
- $13,112NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Mcdowell County Schools?
Mcdowell County Schools has 15 schools in total — 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Mcdowell County Schools?
The average composite rating for Mcdowell County Schools is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Mcdowell County Schools?
Mcdowell County Schools's district-level spending was $13,112 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mcdowell County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Mcdowell County Schools is 14.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Mcdowell County Schools?
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation is the highest-rated school in Mcdowell County Schools with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What are the test scores in Mcdowell County Schools?
Across schools in Mcdowell County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 53.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Mcdowell County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Mcdowell County Schools has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 15 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 53.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 52.4%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Mcdowell County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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