- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Marion, NC
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation
Federal NCES profile for Mcdowell Academy for Innovation, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370294003487
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 68
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 19.8:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 48.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation has class sizes larger than 89% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Academy for Innovation ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294003487 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation grew from 113 students in 2022-23 to 126 in 2023-24 (+11.5%).
Teacher FTE held 8.0 → 8.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+13 students YoY 370294003487 · Marion, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
158 enr · 19.8:1 · 48.7% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation grew from 113 students in 2022-23 to 126 in 2023-24 (+11.5%). Teacher FTE held 8.0 → 8.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation 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 158
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation
158 students
What this shows Mcdowell Academy for Innovation reports 158 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcdowell Academy for Innovation compares
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation is a growing 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 | 19.8:1 | ▲ 25% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.7% | ▼ 26% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 158 | top 92% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
158
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 89% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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 158 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 68.4%
Hispanic or Latino 24.1%
Two or More 3.8%
African American 3.2%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 68.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.2, Mcdowell Academy for Innovation is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
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 Mcdowell Academy for Innovation Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High School | Larger | Similar 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 | Lower 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 Mcdowell Academy for Innovation'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 high schools in Marion
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~158 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell Academy for Innovation
How many students attend Mcdowell Academy for Innovation?
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation has 158 students enrolled. It is a high school in Marion, NC. CCD year-over-year: 113 (2022-23) → 126 (2023-24), up 13.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Academy for Innovation?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Academy for Innovation is 19.8:1, which is 25% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 26% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcdowell Academy for Innovation?
48.7% of students at Mcdowell Academy for Innovation are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdowell Academy for Innovation?
The largest demographic group at Mcdowell Academy for Innovation is White at 68.4% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdowell Academy for Innovation?
Mcdowell Academy for Innovation has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher 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 Mcdowell Academy for Innovation rank among high schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Academy for Innovation ranks #1 of 3 high 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 high schools in Marion on the city page.
What other schools are in Mcdowell County Schools?
Besides Mcdowell Academy for Innovation, 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.