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McDowell County

North Carolina · Public K-12

15 public schools serving approximately 5,776 students, in a county of 44,817 residents.

Schools
15
1 districts
Enrollment
5,776
NCES CCD
Median income
$57,168
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.2%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
8
schools
Middle
3
schools
High
4
schools
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
McDowell County Schools
5,776 students · 1 district in McDowell County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of McDowell County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
88%
Hispanic
7%
Black
4%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
76%
Hispanic
n/r
Black
3%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.4% under 18

All schools (15)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
McDowell High SchoolMarionHigh09-121,416·
West McDowell Middle SchoolMarionMiddle06-08605·
East McDowell Middle SchoolMarionMiddle06-08468·
Glenwood Elementary SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05437·
West Marion Elementary SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05377·
Marion Elementary SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05355·
Nebo Elementary SchoolNeboElementaryPK-05339·
Old Fort Elementary SchoolOld FortElementaryPK-05316·
Pleasant Gardens Elementary SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05304·
Eastfield Global Magnet SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05266·
North Cove Elementary SchoolMarionElementaryPK-05227·
McDowell Early CollegeMarionHigh09-13225·
Foothills Community SchoolMarionMiddle06-08188·
McDowell Virtual AcademyMarionHigh06-12140·
McDowell Academy for InnovationMarionHigh09-13113·

Frequently asked

How many K-12 schools serve McDowell County?
There are 15 public K-12 schools in McDowell County, North Carolina, with a combined enrollment of about 5,776.
How many high schools are in McDowell County?
McDowell County, North Carolina has 4 public high schools, along with 3 middle schools and 8 elementary schools.
What is the largest school district in McDowell County?
McDowell County Schools is the largest school district in McDowell County, serving approximately 5,776 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
How many people live in McDowell County?
McDowell County has roughly 44,817 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in McDowell County?
Median household income in McDowell County is $57,168, below the North Carolina average of $63,182. About 9.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of McDowell County?
Approximately 18.1% of adults 25 and older in McDowell County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in McDowell County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 66.2% of students in McDowell County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the North Carolina county average of 68.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in McDowell County schools?
Across McDowell County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.6 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of McDowell County?
McDowell County residents are approximately 88% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% Black, 1% Asian, 5% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of housing in McDowell County is owner-occupied?
McDowell County has about 21,575 housing units, of which roughly 75.6% are owner-occupied.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data