Excellent
#69 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 3% in state
Mcdowell Early College
High School · Mcdowell County Schools · Marion, NC
A Mcdowell County Schools high school where students score 51 points above what's typical for similar communities.
54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752
- Math 100% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 95% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 95%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Mcdowell Early College score 98% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2019, reaching 98% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 79% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.7%
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 Mcdowell Early College 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 13Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat 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
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Mcdowell County Schools
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #2 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
Mcdowell Early College is listed in McDowell County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mcdowell Early College
Mcdowell Early College is a public high school in Marion, NC, part of Mcdowell County Schools, serving approximately 229 students in grades 9th-UG with a 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #69 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mcdowell Early College
What grades does Mcdowell Early College serve?
Mcdowell Early College serves students in grades 9th through UG.
How many students attend Mcdowell Early College?
Mcdowell Early College has an enrollment of approximately 229 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Early College?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Early College is 20.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mcdowell Early College rank in NC?
Mcdowell Early College ranks #69 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Mcdowell Early College's MySchoolScout rating?
Mcdowell Early College has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 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 Mcdowell Early College?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mcdowell Early College has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mcdowell Early College a charter school?
No, Mcdowell Early College is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mcdowell Early College a Title I school?
No, Mcdowell Early College is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mcdowell Early College?
98.7% of students at Mcdowell Early College 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
- 9th – UG
- Enrollment
- 229
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- McDowell County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 2.2%
- Phone
- (828) 659-0411
- 4-Year Graduation
- 95%+
- 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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