A+
Excellent
96/100

McDowell Early College

📚 09 – 13 🏫 High School
📍 54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752
Overall
A+
96/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
A+
Reading 95% · Math 85% proficient · 92nd percentile in North Carolina
Graduation
A
95% earn a regular diploma in 4 years
Resources
C+
Class size, funding, school size and type

📚 Top 15% in North Carolina for achievement

Each score is graded separately against North Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

96
Repit Score
out of 100
229
Students
enrolled
20.7:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$14K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Academics (reading & math)55%92/100reading 97th percentile, math 88th percentile among North Carolina high schools (2020–21 state tests)
🎓 Graduation (4-year, diploma only)25%85/10095% graduate on time with a regular diploma
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)20%67/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 99% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with North Carolina schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +51 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in North Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency95% (+49 pts vs. state avg 46%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
➗ Math proficiency85% (+42 pts vs. state avg 42%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
🎓 Graduation rate95% (+11 pts vs. state avg 84%)
Four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, class of 2020

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the North Carolina state test (2020–21), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White90%85%reading +22 pts, math +21 pts86th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 54 College Drive
City Marion
ZIP Code 28752
District 3702940
NCES School ID 370294002809
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 28752

Understanding the community around McDowell Early College helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $53,910
Per Capita Income $26,731
Poverty Rate 10.6%
Households Earning $100K+ 20.3%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.0%
High School or Higher 85.6%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $152,600
Median Rent $714
Owner-Occupied 71.7%
Renter-Occupied 28.3%
View full data for ZIP 28752 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 28752 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 28752 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for McDowell Early College.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 44.5%
Female 55.5%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 74.2%
Hispanic/Latino 19.2%
Black 2.2%
Two or More Races 3.1%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian 0.4%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 229
Teachers (FTE) 11.1
Student:Teacher Ratio 20.7:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for McDowell Early College?
McDowell Early College has a Repit School Score of 96 out of 100, earning a grade of A+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, plus the on-time graduation rate, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend McDowell Early College?
McDowell Early College has 229 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.7:1.
What grades does McDowell Early College serve?
McDowell Early College serves grades 09 – 13 and is classified as a High School. This is a public school.
How much funding does McDowell Early College receive per student?
McDowell Early College receives $13,553 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is around the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around McDowell Early College in 28752 ▼
Avg Home Value
$244,306
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,210
1-Year Change
+1.8%
% Renters
28.3%

Other Schools in 28752

View all schools and real estate data for 28752 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026