Enrollment
550
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Marion, NC
West Mcdowell Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Mcdowell Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370294001185
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Mcdowell Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 64.5%
- free-lunch eligible
West Mcdowell Middle School has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Mcdowell Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294001185 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.5%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Mcdowell Middle School compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Mcdowell Middle School
West Mcdowell Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Marion, North Carolina, enrolling 550 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 64.5% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 550 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 444 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #181.
Its student body is led by White (75%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 41/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 275 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.1% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Marion's middle schools, it stands alongside East Mcdowell Middle School (392 students): West Mcdowell Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.8:1 vs 11.9:1).
Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students) and Glenwood Elementary School (435 students) alongside West Mcdowell Middle 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 Mcdowell Middle School compares
West Mcdowell Middle 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.5% | ▼ 2% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 550 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
550
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 32% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
57.1%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 275 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 72 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 75.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 4.5%
African American 3.1%
Asian 1.3%
Largest group: White at 75.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.7, West Mcdowell Middle 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 Mcdowell Middle 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 Mcdowell Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High 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 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Marion Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Old Fort Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Mcdowell Middle 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
- 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 middle schools in Marion
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~550 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Mcdowell Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Mcdowell Middle 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 Mcdowell Middle School
How many students attend West Mcdowell Middle School?
West Mcdowell Middle School has 550 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Marion, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Mcdowell Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Mcdowell Middle School is 13.8:1, which is 13% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% 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 Mcdowell Middle School?
64.5% of students at West Mcdowell Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Mcdowell Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Mcdowell Middle School is White at 75.1% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Mcdowell Middle School?
West Mcdowell Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Mcdowell Middle School rank among middle schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, West Mcdowell Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Marion on the city page.
Is West Mcdowell Middle School a good school?
West Mcdowell Middle School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 Mcdowell Middle School, Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students), Glenwood Elementary School (435 students), and East Mcdowell Middle School (392 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.