McDowell Virtual Academy

Summary:

McDowell Virtual Academy is a public virtual high school serving grades 6-12 in Marion, North Carolina, which is part of the McDowell County Schools district. With a student population of 140, the school has a predominantly White (86.43%) racial makeup.

While McDowell Virtual Academy is part of the McDowell County Schools district, which is ranked 115 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating, the virtual school consistently underperforms compared to the district and the state of North Carolina in standardized test scores across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates in Math I (7.7%), Biology (9.1%), and English II (44.4%) were significantly lower than the district and state averages. Additionally, McDowell Virtual Academy has a low statewide ranking, placing 573 out of 640 North Carolina high schools in 2023-2024 and 578 out of 626 in 2022-2023, with a 1-star and 0-star rating, respectively, from SchoolDigger. The school's performance is particularly low for female students, White students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, ranking in the bottom 10-15% of North Carolina high schools for these subgroups.

The data reveals a stark contrast between the performance of McDowell Virtual Academy and the nearby McDowell Early College and McDowell Academy for Innovation, which consistently rank among the top 5-10% of North Carolina high schools, with significantly higher test scores and graduation rates. This suggests that the unique challenges faced by virtual schools, such as student engagement, access to resources, and the effectiveness of online instruction, may be contributing to the underperformance of McDowell Virtual Academy compared to its brick-and-mortar counterparts.

Detail:

Public, Virtual 6-12

346 West McDowell Junior High
Marion, NC 28752

(828) 652-3390

District: McDowell County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
573^rd of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 49.5

Number of students: 99

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.9%

African American:

4.0%

Two or more races:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 63.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details McDowell Virtual Academy ranks worse than 82.5% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.08. (See more...)

Compare Details McDowell Virtual Academy ranks worse than 89.5% of high schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.53. (See more...)

Student Body

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Teachers

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McDowell Virtual Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks McDowell Virtual Academy 654^th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See McDowell Virtual Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks McDowell Virtual Academy 573^rd of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See McDowell Virtual Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

McDowell County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks McDowell County Schools 115^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for McDowell Virtual Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	28.62	570^th	784	27.3%
2024	20.08	654^th	793	17.5%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	40.71	436^th	743	41.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.56	622^nd	656	5.2%
2024	8.22	632^nd	652	3.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for McDowell Virtual Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.38	578^th	626	7.7%
2024	12.53	573^rd	640	10.5%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	19.11	519^th	613	15.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	7.92	560^th	588	4.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school White students at McDowell Virtual Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	4.55	522^nd	537	2.8%
2024	14.29	496^th	553	10.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for McDowell Virtual Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2022	151	8	2	8	0	6	175
2023	121	9	2	5	0	3	140
2024	89	4	1	1	1	3	99

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at McDowell Virtual Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	175	6.6	26.2	39.4
2023	140	7.0	20.0	26.4
2024	99	2.0	49.5	63.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio McDowell Virtual Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	175	6.6	26.2	39.4
2023	140	7.0	20.0	26.4
2024	99	2.0	49.5	63.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Schools Near McDowell Virtual Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	EOG Mathematics (2024)		EOG Reading (2024)		EOG Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McDowell Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	346 West McDowell Junior High	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(828) 652-3390	99	2	49.5	63.6%	89 (89.9%)	4 (4.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	12.5	573^rd of 640 public high schools	10.5%		10.4	578^th of 626 public high schools	7.7%	5	9.1	44.4	7.7		16.7	16.7	18.2	47.1	58.8
McDowell High School	Public	9-12	600 McDowell High School Dr	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 652-7920	1,384	91	15.2	99.5%	1,021 (73.8%)	50 (3.6%)	218 (15.8%)	12 (0.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (5.8%)	32.1	429^th of 640 public high schools	33.0%		31.5	423^rd of 626 public high schools	32.4%	6	38.0	51.6	33.7	50.9						$9,698	$1,036	$8,662
McDowell Early College	Public	9-12	54 College Drive	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 659-0411	229	11	20.6	98.7%	170 (74.2%)	5 (2.2%)	44 (19.2%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.1%)	93.3	48^th of 640 public high schools	92.5%		95.8	16^th of 626 public high schools	97.4%	32	84.4	97.3	92.3	93.9						$7,400	$232	$7,168
McDowell Academy for Innovation	Public	9-12	54 College Drive	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 659-0411	126	8	15.7	97.6%	87 (69.0%)	6 (4.8%)	29 (23.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	96.4	7^th of 640 public high schools	98.9%		94.5	32^nd of 626 public high schools	94.9%	25	100.0	97.3	96.2	100.0						$24,717	$228	$24,489
Mayland Early College	Public	9-12	264 Mayland Dr	Spruce Pine	28777	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-2590	115	5	23.0	97.4%	91 (79.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (12.2%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.0%)	84.6	113^th of 640 public high schools	82.3%		94.4	34^th of 626 public high schools	94.6%	79	82.9	81.8	95.0	71.4						$7,370	$209	$7,160
Freedom High	Public	9-12	511 Independence Boulevard	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 433-1310	1,374	75	18.4	99.8%	652 (47.5%)	94 (6.8%)	467 (34.0%)	53 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	108 (7.9%)	37.9	388^th of 640 public high schools	39.4%		44.9	324^th of 626 public high schools	48.2%	64	48.5	49.6	34.5	57.2						$8,511	$796	$7,716
Mitchell High	Public	9-12	416 Ledger School Rd	Bakersville	28705	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 766-3400	508	42	11.9	98.0%	422 (83.1%)	5 (1.0%)	65 (12.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.6%)	29.5	455^th of 640 public high schools	28.9%		36.5	384^th of 626 public high schools	38.7%	71	55.6	47.7	18.8	41.5						$11,982	$572	$11,410
Owen High	Public	9-12	99 Lake Eden Road	Black Mountain	28711	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 686-3852	683	44	15.5	99.6%	518 (75.8%)	28 (4.1%)	93 (13.6%)	5 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (5.1%)	56.1	256^th of 640 public high schools	60.0%		62.8	209^th of 626 public high schools	66.6%	47	57.5	61.9	42.4	69.9						$11,241	$694	$10,547
Burke Middle College	Public	11-12	1001 Burkemont Ave	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 448-3175	131	3	43.6	31.3%	64 (48.9%)	2 (1.5%)	18 (13.7%)	43 (32.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.1%)								(n/a)				79.5						$4,804	$268	$4,536

Frequently Asked Questions about McDowell Virtual Academy

What district is McDowell Virtual Academy in?

McDowell County Schools

Is McDowell Virtual Academy a good school?

McDowell Virtual Academy ranks in the bottom 10.5% of North Carolina high schools.

How many students attend McDowell Virtual Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 99 students attended McDowell Virtual Academy.

What is the racial makeup of McDowell Virtual Academy?

Students at McDowell Virtual Academy are 90% White, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.