- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
West Mcdowell Middle School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 39.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-24 students YoY 370294001185 · Marion, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
550 enr · 13.8:1 · 64.5% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
West Mcdowell Middle School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 39.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Mcdowell Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mcdowell High
Mcdowell High School
1,379 students
- This school 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 West Mcdowell Middle School reports 550 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Mcdowell Middle School compares
West Mcdowell Middle 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 | 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 methodology
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
$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
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.
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
District finance for Mcdowell County Schools reports $13,112 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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.
Nationwide middle 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 (~550 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 605 (2022-23) → 581 (2023-24), nearly flat (-24).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.