- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-57 students YoY
East Mcdowell Middle School shrank from 468 students in 2022-23 to 411 in 2023-24 (-12.2%).
Teacher FTE held 33.2 → 33.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-57 students YoY 370294001175 · Marion, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
392 enr · 11.9:1 · 73.7% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
East Mcdowell Middle School shrank from 468 students in 2022-23 to 411 in 2023-24 (-12.2%). Teacher FTE held 33.2 → 33.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
East Mcdowell Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mcdowell High
Mcdowell High School
1,379 students
- West Mcdowell 550
West Mcdowell Middle School
550 students
- Glenwood Eleme 435
Glenwood Elementary School
435 students
- This school 392
East Mcdowell Middle School
392 students
- West Marion El 390
West Marion Elementary School
390 students
- Old Fort Eleme 360
Old Fort Elementary School
360 students
What this shows East Mcdowell Middle School reports 392 students on the CCD universe file.
How East Mcdowell Middle School compares
East Mcdowell Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$13,112
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
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.
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
District finance for Mcdowell County Schools reports $13,112 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~392 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 468 (2022-23) → 411 (2023-24), down 57.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.