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 districtGrades 6–8
East McDowell Middle School or Foothills Community SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
West McDowell Middle School or East McDowell Middle School or Foothills Community SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtBased 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
Paid for by
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
McDowell High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 1,379 students · Marion
B+PublicMcDowell Early CollegeHigh · Grades 9–13 · 241 students · Marion
A+PublicMcDowell Academy for InnovationHigh · Grades 9–13 · 158 students · Marion
A+PublicThe Summit AcademyHigh · Grades 6–12 · 23 students · Marion
PublicSchool 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.