Enrollment
140
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Marion, NC
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
Federal NCES profile for Mcdowell Virtual Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370294003609
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdowell Virtual Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 7
- schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 26.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdowell Virtual Academy 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 Virtual Academy ranks #3 of 7 schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294003609 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
7.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-60% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mcdowell Virtual Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mcdowell Virtual Academy
Mcdowell Virtual Academy is a small combined-grade school in Marion, North Carolina, enrolling 140 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20:1 is larger than about 90% of North Carolina schools and 27% above the 15.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 26.4% free-meal eligibility runs 60% below the North Carolina average.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 93% of North Carolina schools, with 140 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 33 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #31, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 140 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 62.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Marion's public schools, it stands alongside Glenwood Elementary School (435 students): Mcdowell Virtual Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20:1 vs 15.5:1).
Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students) and West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students) alongside Mcdowell Virtual Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mcdowell Virtual Academy compares
Mcdowell Virtual Academy on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 27% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.4% | ▼ 60% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 140 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
140
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 90% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
62.1%
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
$12,857
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 140 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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mcdowell County Schools, which includes Mcdowell Virtual Academy.
$12,857
Per student
+7%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.9%
State 58.7%
Federal 24.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mcdowell Virtual Academy 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 Virtual Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- 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 other schools in Marion
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Glenwood Elementary School
Standard public school
435 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
West Marion Elementary School
Standard public school
390 students 13:1 students per teacher
Marion Elementary School
Standard public school
333 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
Standard public school
289 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Standard public school
279 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
North Cove Elementary School
Standard public school
230 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~140 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mcdowell Virtual Academy's federal record.
- Compare Mcdowell Virtual Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Mcdowell County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell Virtual Academy
How many students attend Mcdowell Virtual Academy?
Mcdowell Virtual Academy has 140 students enrolled. It is a public school in Marion, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Virtual Academy is 20:1, which is 27% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcdowell Virtual Academy?
26.4% of students at Mcdowell Virtual Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdowell Virtual Academy?
Mcdowell Virtual Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mcdowell Virtual Academy rank among schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Virtual Academy ranks #3 of 7 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 schools in Marion on the city page.
Is Mcdowell Virtual Academy a good school?
Mcdowell Virtual Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Mcdowell County Schools?
Besides Mcdowell Virtual Academy, 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.