Public schools in Marion, NC
13 open public schools with an address in Marion, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,899
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.6:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
0
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Marion public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Marion, NC: 6 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,899 students, an average of 377 per school. The largest campus is McDowell High School (1,379 students), and the largest elementary school is Glenwood Elementary School (435).
Every listed school belongs to McDowell County Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.6:1, lower than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 99% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Marion
Elementary schools in Marion
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastfield Global Magnet School McDowell County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 279 | 13.3:1 | |
| Glenwood Elementary School McDowell County Schools | PK–05 | 435 | 16:1 | |
| Marion Elementary School McDowell County Schools | PK–05 | 333 | 14.6:1 | |
| North Cove Elementary School McDowell County Schools | PK–05 | 230 | 14.5:1 | |
| Pleasant Gardens Elementary School McDowell County Schools | PK–05 | 289 | 13.5:1 | |
| West Marion Elementary School McDowell County Schools | PK–05 | 390 | 14.2:1 |
Middle schools in Marion
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East McDowell Middle School McDowell County Schools | 06–08 | 392 | 11.3:1 | |
| Foothills Community School McDowell County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 200 | 18:1 | |
| West McDowell Middle School McDowell County Schools | 06–08 | 550 | 15.5:1 |
High schools in Marion
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell Academy for Innovation McDowell County Schools | 09–13 | 158 | 22.6:1 | |
| McDowell Early College McDowell County Schools | 09–13 | 241 | 19.8:1 | |
| McDowell High School McDowell County Schools | 09–12 | 1,379 | 15.7:1 | |
| The Summit Academy McDowell County Schools · Alternative School | 06–12 | 23 | 5.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White73.4%
- Hispanic16.7%
- Black2.8%
- Asian0.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 13 Marion schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,899 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Marion
How many public schools are in Marion, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Marion: 6 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 4,899 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Marion?
All listed public schools with an address in Marion belong to McDowell County Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Marion?
McDowell High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Marion, with 1,379 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Marion?
No school with an address in Marion is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Marion schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Marion public schools is 14.6:1, lower than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Marion guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities