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?

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
Schools15 in district

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.

You’re browsing

Marion

North Carolina · NC
View town boundary →
Township / city / CDP overlaps possible.
Loading boundary…

Marion is your selected town. The feed includes posts assigned to this town, not a distance radius or ZIP code.

Neighborhoods narrow the feed further, while townwide announcements, events, and issues remain visible.

Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01