Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its North Carolina rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Foothills Community School

Q: Is Foothills Community School a good school?

Foothills Community School ranks 94 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

94^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 88% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Foothills Community School is a grades 6–8 middle school in Marion, North Carolina, serving about 200 students within McDowell County Schools and ranking among the strongest public middle schools in the western part of the state. For the 2025–2026 school year, Foothills ranks 94th out of 778 North Carolina middle schools — the 88th percentile statewide — with a 4-star rating. This is especially striking given that McDowell County Schools itself ranks only 103rd of 246 North Carolina districts. Nearby comparison schools trail by a wide margin: East McDowell Middle School ranks 521st, West McDowell Middle School 504th, Owen Middle 479th, R-S Middle School 473rd, and Table Rock Middle 337th.

Students at Foothills post dramatically higher test scores than their peers across the region. In 8th grade reading, 82.8% of students scored proficient, compared to 51.0% for the district and 56.1% statewide. Eighth-grade science proficiency reached 84.4%, and math proficiency in grades 6 through 8 runs roughly 20 to 30 percentage points above district averages. Attendance is another major strength: chronic absenteeism at Foothills is just 14.2%, about half the district average of 26.5% and far below neighboring schools, where rates range from 25% to 37%.

What makes Foothills especially noteworthy is that it achieves these results while serving a student body with high economic need — 98.5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with other North Carolina schools serving similar populations, Foothills holds a 5-star rating for low-income student outcomes, ranking 42nd of 725 schools in the 94th percentile. It does so while spending about $6,490 per student, less than nearby middle schools, and its success has been consistent over time. The school improved steadily from a 2-star rating in 2016–2017 to sustained top-15% performance today. The only area to keep an eye on is the gifted and talented subgroup, whose most recent ranking dipped modestly after several strong years — likely a reflection of small cohort sizes rather than an overall decline.

200

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

98.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752

(828) 652-1040

District: McDowell County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.0%

Hispanic:

11.0%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Foothills Community School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 34th percentile in 2017 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (75% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of North Carolina middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 54 percentile points since 2017

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg58%

94^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 54 pts since 2017

From bottom 34% (2017) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

103^rd of 246McDowell County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	94 of 778	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	83.8	105 of 773	86.4%	★★★★☆
2024	77.1	152 of 793	80.8%	★★★★☆
2023	85.8	94 of 784	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	84.2	106 of 786	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	74.6	171 of 741	76.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	239 of 737	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.5	251 of 691	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	36.9	461 of 694	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	66.9	92 of 504	81.7%	★★★★☆
2018	35.9	303 of 475	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.4	101 of 731	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.1	153 of 733	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	71.4	182 of 738	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	79.7	129 of 731	82.4%	★★★★☆
2022	79.2	134 of 733	81.7%	★★★★☆
2021	72.0	172 of 706	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.5	230 of 684	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.8	232 of 656	64.6%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	340 of 465	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	68.1	115 of 458	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	62.0	185 of 461	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.8	120 of 452	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	71.1	68 of 450	84.9%	★★★★☆
2021	46.2	308 of 448	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.4	378 of 416	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.2	76 of 566	86.6%	★★★★☆
2023	96.8	12 of 553	97.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	42 of 725	94.2%	★★★★★
2025	80.0	83 of 729	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	84.1	61 of 743	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	95.5	17 of 735	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	80.5	76 of 689	89.0%	★★★★☆
2021	89.2	30 of 633	95.3%	★★★★★
2019	78.6	78 of 639	87.8%	★★★★☆
2018	48.9	310 of 604	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.4	91 of 736	87.6%	★★★★☆
2025	87.3	72 of 733	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	78.6	136 of 751	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	84.5	95 of 747	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	86.1	83 of 748	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	74.7	163 of 711	77.1%	★★★★☆
2019	66.6	219 of 697	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	243 of 665	63.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.2	142 of 644	78.0%	★★★★☆
2025	70.0	177 of 649	72.7%	★★★★☆
2024	61.2	230 of 652	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.7	187 of 656	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	68.6	184 of 658	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	56.5	245 of 632	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.9	306 of 624	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.0	360 of 596	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	7.8	429 of 469	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	8.5	430 of 476	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)94th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)87th percentile~ school

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

Disabled (2019)82nd percentile+14 vs school

White (2026)78th percentile-10 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)27th percentile-61 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science84%+16 vs state

Reading75%+20 vs state

Mathematics72%+16 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Foothills Community School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Foothills Community School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th 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
Foothills Community School	Public, Magnet	6-8	176 Lukin Street	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(828) 652-1040	200	11	18.0	98.5%	164 (82.0%)	4 (2.0%)	22 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.0%)	84.7	94^th of 778 public middle schools	87.9%		83.8	105^th of 773 public middle schools	86.4%	11	67.1	71.9	78.5	69.7	75.0	82.8	84.4	$6,490	$276	$6,214
East McDowell Middle School	Public	6-8	676 State Street	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 652-7711	392	35	11.2	99.2%	273 (69.6%)	16 (4.1%)	77 (19.6%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.1%)	34.1	521^st of 778 public middle schools	33.0%		31.6	529^th of 773 public middle schools	31.6%	8	52.0	50.4	37.4	46.4	44.4	44.0	63.7	$9,697	$1,539	$8,158
West McDowell Middle School	Public	6-8	346 West McDowell Junior High	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 652-3390	550	35	15.5	99.5%	413 (75.1%)	17 (3.1%)	88 (16.0%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.5%)	36.9	504^th of 778 public middle schools	35.2%		43.7	444^th of 773 public middle schools	42.6%	60	57.5	44.3	50.0	45.2	48.3	45.5	59.0	$9,132	$764	$8,368
Table Rock Middle	Public	6-8	1585 Nc 126	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 437-5212	427	31	14.0	99.1%	282 (66.0%)	34 (8.0%)	53 (12.4%)	20 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.7%)	56.2	337^th of 778 public middle schools	56.7%		49.2	390^th of 773 public middle schools	49.5%	53	46.3	66.7	65.0	49.0	53.3	51.6	85.4	$9,032	$751	$8,280
R-S Middle School	Public	6-8	607 Westbrook Dr.	Rutherfordton	28139	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 286-4461	561	30	18.6	98.2%	373 (66.5%)	78 (13.9%)	51 (9.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (10.0%)	40.7	473^rd of 778 public middle schools	39.2%		48.9	393^rd of 773 public middle schools	49.2%	80	52.6	50.3	40.6	44.2	49.7	57.2	67.2	$8,987	$745	$8,242
Owen Middle	Public	6-8	730 Old US 70	Swannanoa	28778	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 686-7739	457	33	13.7	96.7%	329 (72.0%)	15 (3.3%)	85 (18.6%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (5.0%)	39.9	479^th of 778 public middle schools	38.4%		28.6	561^st of 773 public middle schools	27.4%	82	58.8	49.7	48.7	49.4	45.1	45.6	62.7	$10,287	$730	$9,558

Frequently Asked Questions about Foothills Community School

How many students attend Foothills Community School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 200 students attended Foothills Community School.

What district is Foothills Community School in?

McDowell County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Foothills Community School?

Students at Foothills Community School are 82% White, 11% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Foothills Community School a good school?

Foothills Community School ranks 94^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Foothills Community School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina Middle School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Marion, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Foothills Community School!

Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.