- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Marion, NC
Foothills Community School
Federal NCES profile for Foothills Community School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370294003353
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Foothills Community School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 44.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Foothills Community School has class sizes larger than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Foothills Community School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294003353 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Foothills Community School held near 196 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 12.4 → 11.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 370294003353 · Marion, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
200 enr · 16.7:1 · 44.7% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
Foothills Community School held near 196 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 12.4 → 11.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Foothills Community 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
- East Mcdowell 392
East Mcdowell Middle School
392 students
- West Marion El 390
West Marion Elementary School
390 students
- This school 200
Foothills Community School
200 students
What this shows Foothills Community School reports 200 students on the CCD universe file.
How Foothills Community School compares
Foothills Community School held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 16.7:1 | ▲ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.7% | ▼ 32% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 200 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
200
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below 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
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 70% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.0%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 200 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 82.0%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
Two or More 5.0%
African American 2.0%
Largest group: White at 82.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.3, Foothills Community 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 Foothills Community School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glenwood Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Marion Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Foothills Community 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
- 392
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 390
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 (~200 students)
Frequently asked questions about Foothills Community School
How many students attend Foothills Community School?
Foothills Community School has 200 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Marion, NC. CCD year-over-year: 188 (2022-23) → 196 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Foothills Community School?
The student-teacher ratio at Foothills Community School is 16.7:1, which is 6% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Foothills Community School?
44.7% of students at Foothills Community School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Foothills Community School?
The largest demographic group at Foothills Community School is White at 82.0% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Foothills Community School?
Foothills Community School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Foothills Community School rank among middle schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Foothills Community School ranks #1 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 Foothills Community 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.