McDowell County Schools

Public Regional · 2 towns Grades PK–12 C+School Grade

Public schools for Marion and Old Fort.

At a glance

5,613Students enrolled

15Schools

2Towns served

$13,412Spent per student

15:1Student–teacher ratio

99%Free / reduced lunch

School path

Where would my kid go?

MarionOld Fort

Grades PK–5

Marion Elementary School or Eastfield Global Magnet SchoolDepends on your addressThis district

Grades 6–8

East McDowell Middle School or Foothills Community SchoolDepends on your addressThis district

Grades PK–5

Old Fort Elementary School360 students · Old FortThis district

Grades 6–8

West McDowell Middle School or East McDowell Middle School or Foothills Community SchoolDepends on your addressThis district

Based on district boundaries from the U.S. Department of Education. Where a town has more than one school at a grade, your street decides; check with the district before you enroll.

Academic performanceDistrict vs NC

Math proficiency35%

State average 41.9%

Reading / language arts46%

State average 47.2%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 87.7%

EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (tests 2020–21; graduation 2019–20). The tick marks the state average.

Where the money goes

$13,412

per student each year · 3% above the NC average

Spending

Classroom instruction63%

Support & administration31%

Other6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax)16%

State66%

Federal17%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (fiscal 2024).

Enrollment · last 5 years

5,702’20

5,706’21

5,636’22

5,562’23

5,613’24

Students

White · 74%4,172

Hispanic · 16%892

Two or more races · 6%336

Black · 3%156

Asian · 1%46

American Indian/Alaska Native · 0%8

Across the district's schools, as reported to NCES.

Towns served

📍

Marion7,579 people

📍

Old Fort555 people

Schools15 in district

Level

All 15 Elementary 8 Middle 3 High 4

📚

Glenwood Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 435 students · Marion

B-Public 📚

West Marion Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 390 students · Marion

CPublic 📚

Old Fort Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 360 students · Old Fort

C+Public 📚

Nebo Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 354 students · Nebo

CPublic 📚

Marion Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 333 students · Marion

BPublic 📚

Pleasant Gardens Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 289 students · Marion

C+Public 📚

Eastfield Global Magnet SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 279 students · Marion

C+Public 📚

North Cove Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 230 students · Marion

B-Public 📚

West McDowell Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 550 students · Marion

C+Public 📚

East McDowell Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 392 students · Marion

CPublic 📚

Foothills Community SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 200 students · Marion

B+Public 🏫

McDowell High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 1,379 students · Marion

B+Public 🏫

McDowell Early CollegeHigh · Grades 9–13 · 241 students · Marion

A+Public 🏫

McDowell Academy for InnovationHigh · Grades 9–13 · 158 students · Marion

A+Public 🏫

The Summit AcademyHigh · Grades 6–12 · 23 students · Marion

Public

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES). Ratings are from neighbors on TownTapestry.

District facts from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory and school district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau's school finance survey. Test scores and graduation rates from EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings reflect opinions, not an official measure of school quality.