Excellent
#183 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 7% in state
Foothills Community School
Middle School · Mcdowell County Schools · Marion, NC
A Mcdowell County Schools middle school where students score 24 points above what's typical for similar communities.
176 Lukin Street, Marion, NC 28752
- Math 68% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 74% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Foothills Community School score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 19 points since 2020, reaching 71% in 2025, across a 12-year record (2014–2025).
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2014-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Foothills Community School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 29Car-Dependent
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,457/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Marion), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,036
Median home value
$166,100
Median rent
$712/mo
College educated
16.3%
Homeownership
71.8%
Poverty rate
15.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28752; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Manna Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 195 | Compare → |
| East Mcdowell Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 6–8 | 2.6 mi | 411 | Compare → |
| West Mcdowell Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | 6–8 | 2.9 mi | 581 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Mcdowell County Schools
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #3 of 15
- District spending per student
- $13,112NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Foothills Community School is listed in McDowell County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Foothills Community School
Foothills Community School is a public middle school in Marion, NC, part of Mcdowell County Schools, serving approximately 196 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #183 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Foothills Community School
What grades does Foothills Community School serve?
Foothills Community School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Foothills Community School?
Foothills Community School has an enrollment of approximately 196 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Foothills Community School?
The student-teacher ratio at Foothills Community School is 17.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Foothills Community School rank in NC?
Foothills Community School ranks #183 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Foothills Community School's MySchoolScout rating?
Foothills Community School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Foothills Community School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Foothills Community School has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Is Foothills Community School a charter school?
No, Foothills Community School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Foothills Community School a Title I school?
No, Foothills Community School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Foothills Community School?
98.5% of students at Foothills Community School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 196
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- McDowell County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.4%
- Phone
- (828) 652-1040
- Area population (ZIP 28752)
- 30,602
- Area average commute
- 24.5 min
- Area median age
- 41.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28752; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2014-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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