Enrollment
392
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Marion, NC
East Mcdowell Middle School
Federal NCES profile for East Mcdowell Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370294001175
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Mcdowell Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 73.7%
- free-lunch eligible
East Mcdowell Middle School has class sizes smaller than 88% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Mcdowell Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294001175 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.9:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.7%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How East Mcdowell Middle School compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at East Mcdowell Middle School
East Mcdowell Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Marion, North Carolina, enrolling 392 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.9:1, East Mcdowell Middle School is leaner than roughly 88% of North Carolina schools and 25% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 73.7% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 392 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 242 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #49.
Its student body is led by White (70%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 196 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 66.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 196 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 392 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 6 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Marion's middle schools, it stands alongside West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students): East Mcdowell Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.9:1 vs 13.8:1).
Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students) and West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students) alongside East Mcdowell Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How East Mcdowell Middle School compares
East Mcdowell Middle School on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 25% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.7% | ▲ 12% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 392 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
392
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 12% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
66.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,857
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 196 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
142
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 36.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 69.6%
Hispanic or Latino 19.6%
Two or More 5.1%
African American 4.1%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 69.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.3, East Mcdowell Middle School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mcdowell County Schools, which includes East Mcdowell Middle School.
$12,857
Per student
+7%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.9%
State 58.7%
Federal 24.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How East Mcdowell Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Glenwood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Marion Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Old Fort Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East Mcdowell Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 390
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar middle schools in Marion
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~392 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on East Mcdowell Middle School's federal record.
- Compare East Mcdowell Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Mcdowell County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about East Mcdowell Middle School
How many students attend East Mcdowell Middle School?
East Mcdowell Middle School has 392 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Marion, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Mcdowell Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at East Mcdowell Middle School is 11.9:1, which is 25% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at East Mcdowell Middle School?
73.7% of students at East Mcdowell Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Mcdowell Middle School?
The largest demographic group at East Mcdowell Middle School is White at 69.6% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Mcdowell Middle School?
East Mcdowell Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does East Mcdowell Middle School rank among middle schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, East Mcdowell Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Marion, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Marion on the city page.
Is East Mcdowell Middle School a good school?
East Mcdowell Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Mcdowell County Schools?
Besides East Mcdowell Middle School, Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students), West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students), and Glenwood Elementary School (435 students). See the Mcdowell County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.