Top Rankings
Mcdowell County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,794 students in Mcdowell County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Mcdowell County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Mcdowell County School have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Mcdowell Early College, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
5,617 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
387 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Mcdowell County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#168 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)51%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)80%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
15%
20%
% Black
3%
24%
% White
76%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,591 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,818 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,591
$11,191
Spending / Student
$11,818
$11,616
Best Mcdowell County Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mcdowell Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Gr: 9-13 | 198 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Mcdowell High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 Mcdowell High School Dr
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7920
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-7920
Gr: 9-12 | 1,384 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #33.
Mcdowell Academy For Innovation
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Gr: 9-13 | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #44.
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
346 West Mcdowell Junior High
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3390
Gr: 6-12 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 50:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
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