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B−

McDowell County Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 2 towns

Serves Marion and Old Fort.

Marion’s School Grade B− better than 47% of North Carolina school districts

Students
5,613
Schools
15
Spent per student
$13,412
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
99%
Debt
$5.6M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about McDowell County Schools

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 47% of North Carolina districts
  • 15 students per teacher
  • Debt of $5.6M, about $998 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 47% of the 325 North Carolina school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math close to the state, 2021–22
B−
GraduationFour-year graduation below the state, class of 2023
C
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B−Marion 7,440Old Fort 797

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Marion. Grade by grade →

PK–52 elementary schoolsThis district
6–82 middle schoolsThis district
9–122 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. NC

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency51%
State average 50.8% · 2,721 students tested
Reading / language arts48%
State average 49.9% · 3,082 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)84%
State average 86.5% · 446 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,412 per student · 3% above NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 31%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 16%State 66%Federal 17%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
5,702’20
5,706’21
5,636’22
5,562’23
5,613’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 74%Hispanic 16%Two or more races 6%Black 3%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

15 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools.

Glenwood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
B−
435 students16:1
West Marion Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
C−
390 students14:1
Old Fort Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Old Fort
C+
360 students15:1
Nebo Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Nebo
C
354 students16:1
Marion Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
B
333 students15:1
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
C+
289 students13:1
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
C+
279 students13:1
North Cove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marion
B−
230 students14:1
West McDowell Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Marion
C+
550 students15:1
East McDowell Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Marion
C
392 students11:1
Foothills Community School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Marion
B+
200 students18:1
The Summit Academy
High · Grades 6–12 · Marion
23 students6:1
McDowell High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Marion
B+
1,379 students16:1
McDowell Early College
High · Grades 9–13 · Marion
A+
241 students20:1
McDowell Academy for Innovation
High · Grades 9–13 · Marion
A+
158 students23:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within North Carolina.