Enrollment
390
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Marion, NC
West Marion Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Marion Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370294001184
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Marion Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools.
- #6 of 7
- schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 66.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Marion Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Marion Elementary School ranks #6 of 7 schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294001184 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Marion Elementary School compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Marion Elementary School
West Marion Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Marion, North Carolina, enrolling 390 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 66.6% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 390 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 330 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #240, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (76%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%) (diversity index 39/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 390 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 59.7% 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): West Marion Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 15.5:1).
Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students) and West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students) alongside West Marion Elementary School.
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 West Marion Elementary School compares
West Marion Elementary School 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 | 13:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.6% | ▲ 1% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 390 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
390
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% above 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 22% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.7%
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 390 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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.
Student demographics
White 76.4%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 3.1%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: White at 76.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.4, West Marion Elementary School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mcdowell County Schools, which includes West Marion Elementary School.
$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 West Marion Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glenwood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mcdowell Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Old Fort Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Marion Elementary School'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
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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
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
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
Standard public school
140 students 20:1 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 (~390 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Marion Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare West Marion Elementary School 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 West Marion Elementary School
How many students attend West Marion Elementary School?
West Marion Elementary School has 390 students enrolled. It is a public school in Marion, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Marion Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Marion Elementary School is 13:1, which is 18% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 West Marion Elementary School?
66.6% of students at West Marion Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Marion Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Marion Elementary School is White at 76.4% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Marion Elementary School?
West Marion Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 West Marion Elementary School rank among schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, West Marion Elementary School ranks #6 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 West Marion Elementary School a good school?
West Marion Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% 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 West Marion Elementary 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.
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.