McDowell Academy for Innovation

mai.mcdowell.k12.nc.us

158 Students

High School 9th - 13

School Overview

McDowell Academy for Innovation (MAI), located in Marion, North Carolina, serves as a specialized public high school within the McDowell County Schools district. Designed to offer a non-traditional educational environment, the academy focuses on personalized learning and flexible instruction to support students who may benefit from an alternative setting. By emphasizing innovation and individual student growth, the school aims to help pupils overcome academic challenges, recover credits, and stay on track for graduation.

The academy prioritizes a supportive culture that blends rigorous academic standards with vocational and life-skills development. Through a smaller, more intimate school setting, MAI fosters strong relationships between students and staff, creating a unique atmosphere that encourages engagement and persistence. By integrating modern educational practices, McDowell Academy for Innovation serves as a vital resource for students seeking a path to success tailored to their specific learning styles and career aspirations.

158

Total Students

7.0

Full-Time Teachers

22.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

98.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for McDowell Academy for Innovation
Demographic	Student Count
White	108
Hispanic	38
Black	5
Asian	1
Two or More	6

White
108 (68.4%)
Hispanic
38 (24.1%)
Two or More
6 (3.8%)
Black
5 (3.2%)
Asian
1 (0.6%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	McDowell County Schools
Phone:	(828)659-0411
Website:	http://mai.mcdowell.k12.nc.us
Grade Range:	9th - 13
Total Students:	158
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	7.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	155
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 13 20

Grade 9 47

Grade 10 41

Grade 11 36

Grade 12 14