- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Marion, NC
Mcdowell High School
Federal NCES profile for Mcdowell High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370294001179
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdowell High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 56.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdowell High School has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294001179 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Mcdowell High School held near 1,384 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 94.3 → 90.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-32 students YoY 370294001179 · Marion, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,379 enr · 14.7:1 · 56.6% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students)
Mcdowell High School held near 1,384 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-32 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 94.3 → 90.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Mcdowell High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Old Fort Eleme 360
Old Fort Elementary School
360 students
What this shows Mcdowell High School reports 1,379 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcdowell High School compares
Mcdowell High 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.6% | ▼ 14% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,379 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,379
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.5%
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 345 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
279
in-school suspensions + 114 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 3.6%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 72.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.0, Mcdowell High School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Mcdowell Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glenwood Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Mcdowell Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Marion Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Old Fort Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcdowell High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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 (~1,379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell High School
How many students attend Mcdowell High School?
Mcdowell High School has 1,379 students enrolled. It is a high school in Marion, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,416 (2022-23) → 1,384 (2023-24), nearly flat (-32).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell High School is 14.7:1, which is 7% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 Mcdowell High School?
56.6% of students at Mcdowell High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdowell High School?
The largest demographic group at Mcdowell High School is White at 72.7% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdowell High School?
Mcdowell High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Mcdowell High School rank among high schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell High School ranks #3 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 High School, Mcdowell County Schools also operates West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students), Glenwood Elementary School (435 students), and East Mcdowell Middle School (392 students). See the Mcdowell County Schools district page for the complete list.