Foothills Review

There were 5,511 students enrolled in McDowell County Schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.9% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

McDowell County Schools roughly covers 14 schools within McDowell County and has a main office in Marion.

Among the 14 schools in McDowell County Schools, West McDowell Middle School recorded the highest enrollment of 609 students in the 2022-23 school year.

Despite boasting a favorable teacher-student ratio of 1:15, surpassing the national average, North Carolina's public schools face a significant funding gap. The state's per-student expenditure of $10,519 falls considerably short of the national average of $14,295.

North Carolina's public schools faced a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.

School	Total Enrollment
West McDowell Middle School	609
East McDowell Middle School	468
Glenwood Elementary School	397
West Marion Elementary School	347
Marion Elementary School	335
Nebo Elementary School	322
Old Fort Elementary School	288
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School	276
Eastfield Global Magnet School	250
McDowell Early College	225
North Cove Elementary School	199
Foothills Community School	189
McDowell Virtual Academy	131
McDowell Academy for Innovation	111