McDowell County Schools
Schools by level
Elementary 8 · Middle school 3 · High school 3
At a glance
- Students
- 5,792 (2024-25)
- Schools
- 14
- Students per teacher
- 15.2
- Grades
- PK-13
- Locale
- Rural: Fringe
- District office
- 334 South Main St, Marion, NC 28752
- Phone
- (828) 652-4535
- Website
- www.mcdowell.k12.nc.us
Official rating
The official rating for this district is not linked yet.
Check the zoned school for an address
Each address is zoned to specific schools. Confirm with the district's official lookup tool or office before you sign a lease.
Schools (14)
Official campus ratings are shown with their year. Use the address lookup to confirm zoning.
Elementary 8
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 279
Glenwood Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 435
Marion Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 333
Nebo Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Nebo · Students 354
North Cove Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 230
Old Fort Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Old Fort · Students 360
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 289
West Marion Elementary School
Grades PK-5 · Marion · Students 390
Middle school 3
East McDowell Middle School
Grades 6-8 · Marion · Students 392
Foothills Community School
Grades 6-8 · Marion · Students 200
West McDowell Middle School
Grades 6-8 · Marion · Students 550
High school 3
McDowell Academy for Innovation
Grades 9-13 · Marion · Students 158
McDowell Early College
Grades 9-13 · Marion · Students 241
McDowell High School
Grades 9-12 · Marion · Students 1,379
Checklist before renting in this district
Check these before you sign a lease.
Checked the assigned school for the exact address with the official lookup before signing
Source:Fairfax County Public Schools (checked 2026-10-29)
Asked the district or council whether boundary or admission changes are planned
Asked whether the assigned school has room (or sends overflow elsewhere)
Checked that the lease is accepted as proof of address on the enrolment list
Source:U.S. Department of Education (NCELA) (checked 2026-10-29)
Asked how the assigned school supports English learners (ESL/EAL)
Source:U.S. Department of Education (NCELA) (checked 2026-10-29)
Checked the commute (school-bus eligibility, walking route)
ESL / ELL support
US public schools must support students learning English. At enrolment families complete a Home Language Survey and an English assessment decides the support. Ask the district about its programmes.
F-1 student visas cannot be used for US public elementary or middle schools (K-8); public high school on an F-1 is limited to 12 months with full tuition paid (US Department of State). Your status depends on the parents' visa, so confirm with official sources.
Sources
- NCES Common Core of Data — 2024-25 preliminary directory files2024-25· Checked 2026-10-29
- NCES Common Core of Data (EDGE school & district characteristics)2024-25· Checked 2026-10-29
School and district lists come from the NCES Common Core of Data; ratings from each state education agency. Every number carries its year. No house prices, crime data or home-made rankings.
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