Mission Statement -The mission of McDowell County Schools is to provide quality education in a safe and supportive environment where we respect students' individual and cultural differences, develop their talents in partnership with family and community, and ensure that they possess the life skills necessary for personal successes and civic responsibility. McDowell County Schools is located in the foothills of beautiful Western North Carolina, about 30 miles east of Asheville. McDowell County Schools consists of 13 schools (one high school, one early college, one alternative education center, two middle/junior high schools, eight elementary schools) and two pre-school sites. The school system has approximately 6,500 students, nearly 1,000 employees, and a $40 million budget. McDowell County Schools focus on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study