Can I use McDowell County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the McDowell County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in McDowell County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in McDowell County?

Start with the 15 listed public schools and 1 district entry, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

McDowell County Schools & Education

Name: McDowell County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

McDowell County, North Carolina

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

42/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,475

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

42/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#34

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: McDowell County

Measured School Summary

McDowell County performs at an average level with a school score of 42/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.

Funding Context

At $7,475 per pupil, McDowell County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read McDowell County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

15 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

42/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #34 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

87.0%

1.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,475

$506 above the state average

School coverage

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

McDowell County has 15 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What McDowell County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

McDowell County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 15 of 15 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#34

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

McDowell County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

5,776 students

Elementary 8Middle 3High 4Other 0

15 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

McDowell County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 15 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in McDowell County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in McDowell County, North Carolina

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Robust Public School System in McDowell

McDowell County supports 15 public schools that accommodate 5,776 students within a single unified district. The infrastructure includes eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools. This comprehensive layout ensures that students have clear pathways from early childhood through high school graduation.

Unified Oversight via McDowell County Schools

All 5,776 students in the county attend schools managed by the McDowell County Schools district. There are currently no charter schools in the area, meaning the public district receives the full focus of local education resources. This centralization allows for coordinated athletic programs and standardized academic support across all 15 campuses.

Community Schools Ranging from Rural to Town

McDowell schools are split between 10 rural locations and 5 town settings, offering a diverse geographic feel. While the average school size is 385 students, McDowell High School stands out as a large community hub with 1,416 students. Smaller campuses like West Marion Elementary provide a more intimate 377-student environment for younger learners.

School Overview

Total Schools

in McDowell County

Reported Enrollment

5,776

15 schools reporting

School Districts

district

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle3

High4

Other0

1 School District in McDowell County

McDowell County Schools

Guide

15 schools

5,776 students enrolled

Open district guide

15 Public Schools in McDowell County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

Public schools in McDowell County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
McDowell High School	Profile	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,416
West McDowell Middle School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	605
East McDowell Middle School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	468
Glenwood Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	437
West Marion Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	377
Marion Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	355
Nebo Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Nebo, 28761Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	339
Old Fort Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Old Fort, 28762Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	316
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	304
Eastfield Global Magnet School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	266
North Cove Elementary School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	227
McDowell Early College	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	9–UG	High	225
Foothills Community School	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	188
McDowell Virtual Academy	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	6–12	Virtual	140
McDowell Academy for Innovation	Record	McDowell County Schools	Marion, 28752Rural: Fringe	9–UG	High	113

McDowell High School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,416 students

West McDowell Middle School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle605 students

East McDowell Middle School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle468 students

Glenwood Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary437 students

West Marion Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary377 students

Marion Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary355 students

Nebo Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Nebo, 28761 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary339 students

Old Fort Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Old Fort, 28762 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary316 students

Pleasant Gardens Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary304 students

Eastfield Global Magnet School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary266 students

North Cove Elementary School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary227 students

McDowell Early College

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–UGHigh225 students

Foothills Community School

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle188 students

McDowell Virtual Academy

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Virtual140 students

McDowell Academy for Innovation

McDowell County Schools

Marion, 28752 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–UGHigh113 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,475

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review McDowell County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?

Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in McDowell County?

McDowell County has a school score of 42/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in McDowell County?

The high school graduation rate in McDowell County is 87.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does McDowell County spend per student?

McDowell County spends $7,475 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in McDowell County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in McDowell County, North Carolina?

What are the major school districts in McDowell County, North Carolina?

What is the school experience like in McDowell County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Chatham County

North Carolina

-0 pts

42/100

School score

Bladen County

North Carolina

+1 pts

43/100

School score

Beaufort County

North Carolina

-1 pts

42/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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