Foothills Review

There were 5,419 students enrolled in McDowell County Schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.7% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

McDowell County Schools roughly covers 15 schools within McDowell County and has a main office in Marion.

Among the 15 schools in McDowell County Schools, McDowell High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,356 students in the 2023-24 school year.

North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.

If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.

School	Total Enrollment
McDowell High School	1,356
West McDowell Middle School	585
East McDowell Middle School	408
Glenwood Elementary School	379
West Marion Elementary School	367
Marion Elementary School	333
Nebo Elementary School	312
Old Fort Elementary School	288
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School	281
Eastfield Global Magnet School	262
McDowell Early College	227
North Cove Elementary School	203
Foothills Community School	193
McDowell Academy for Innovation	125
McDowell Virtual Academy	100