- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Marion, NC
Mcdowell Early College
Federal NCES profile for Mcdowell Early College, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370294002809
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 96
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdowell Early College earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.1:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 40.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdowell Early College has class sizes larger than 90% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Early College ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294002809 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Mcdowell Early College held near 229 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 12.2 → 11.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 370294002809 · Marion, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
241 enr · 20.1:1 · 40.0% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
Mcdowell Early College held near 229 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 12.2 → 11.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mcdowell Early College 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 241
Mcdowell Early College
241 students
What this shows Mcdowell Early College reports 241 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcdowell Early College compares
Mcdowell Early College 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 | 20.1:1 | ▲ 27% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.0% | ▼ 39% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 241 | top 84% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
241
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 90% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
1.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
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 241 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 3.3%
African American 2.1%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 76.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.9, Mcdowell Early College 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 Early College 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 | 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 Early College'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 (~241 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell Early College
How many students attend Mcdowell Early College?
Mcdowell Early College has 241 students enrolled. It is a high school in Marion, NC. CCD year-over-year: 225 (2022-23) → 229 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Early College?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Early College is 20.1:1, which is 27% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcdowell Early College?
40.0% of students at Mcdowell Early College are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdowell Early College?
The largest demographic group at Mcdowell Early College is White at 76.3% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdowell Early College?
Mcdowell Early College has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 Early College rank among high schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Early College ranks #2 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 Early College, 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.