McDowell County Schools

08/28/2026

From the MCS Exceptional Children's Department: 📣 McDowell County Schools EC Parent Training Series — Session 1!

The McDowell County Schools Office of Exceptional Children is excited to invite all parents and caregivers within McDowell County Schools to our first EC Parent Training of the 2026–2027 school year!

Our first session, “Making the IEP Work at Home: Using Explicit Instruction & Progress Monitoring,” is designed to help families better understand how the goals and supports in an IEP can connect to everyday learning at home.

Parents will learn practical, easy-to-use strategies for breaking skills into manageable steps, providing clear instruction and practice, and noticing and tracking progress over time. Our goal is not to turn home into school—it is to give families tools that help them feel informed, confident, and supported as they encourage their child’s growth and independence.

💙 We know that families are an essential part of every child’s educational team. We want our parents to know that you are not expected to figure everything out on your own. Our EC team is committed to building strong school-family partnerships and providing meaningful resources that can make supporting learning at home feel more manageable.

Choose the session that works best for your family:

☀️ Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 9:00–10:30 AM
🌙 Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 5:00–6:30 PM
📍 Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
100 John Roach Drive, Marion, NC 28752

There is no requirement to attend both dates—the same training will be offered twice so families can choose the date and time that works best for them.

We hope you’ll join us as we learn, connect, support, and empower one another. Strong partnerships between families and schools can make a powerful difference for students! 💙

McDowell County Schools Office of Exceptional Children
Stronger Together. Brighter Futures.

08/28/2026

McDowell County Schools welcomes ASU Chancellor Norris on Thursday

08/19/2026

Community Opportunity: MATCH is hosting their 5th Annual Back to School Resource Fair tomorrow, Thursday, August 20 from 4pm-6pm. The event location is at 201 Ridley Street, Marion, NC. The organization will be giving out over 300 backpacks filled with school supplies, providing 150-$20 gift certificates to Shoe Sensation, hosting a free community cookout, and featuring over 30 community organizations with resources and giveaways.

*This event is not sponsored by McDowell County Schools.

08/19/2026

Coming up tomorrow we are teaming up with Norton's Small Engine Repair for the Back to School Bash!

Join us tomorrow at their location 223 Maple Hill RD, Marion, NC from 2-5pm for your school supply needs!🎒✏️

We want to thank the sponsors for supporting our community and for helping our kids get back to school!😃

08/14/2026

What a great opportunity these McDowell High School students got to experience recently. North Carolina Department of Transportation

08/12/2026

Welcome Back for the 2026-2027 School Year to McDowell Early College and McDowell Academy for Innovation.

08/07/2026

Every teen deserves hope. Every teen deserves support.

Across McDowell County, we're seeing more young people struggling with their mental health and more teens experiencing thoughts of su***de. That's why organizations from across our community are coming together with one shared mission: to ensure every teen knows they are not alone and that help is available.

This campaign is the beginning of a countywide effort to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and connect teens and families with support and resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling right now:
💙 Talk to a trusted adult—a parent, teacher, school counselor, coach, pastor, or another adult you trust.
📞 Call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. Free. Confidential. Available 24/7.
💬 Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor.
🚨 If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

You matter. Your life matters. Help is available.

Together, we can build a community where every young person feels seen, supported, and never alone.

***dePrevention

08/06/2026

🥞🍎 Great News for McDowell County Schools Families! 🍎🥪

McDowell County Schools is excited to announce that all students will once again receive breakfast and lunch at no cost during the 2026–2027 school year through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)!

We encourage every student to take advantage of this opportunity. A nutritious breakfast helps students start the day focused, energized, and ready to learn, while a healthy lunch provides the fuel they need to stay engaged and successful throughout the school day.

✅ No meal application is required.
✅ Breakfast and lunch are available at no charge for every MCS student.

Nutritious and healthy meals lead to bright futures, and we're proud to continue providing healthy meals that support the success and well-being of every student.

For more information, please contact your child's school or the McDowell County Schools School Nutrition Department. McDowell County School Nutrition

08/06/2026

Titan Athletics Safety Initiatives:

In an effort to continue to improve the overall level of safety for our students, faculty, staff and anyone who attends a football or basketball game at McDowell High School, McDowell County Schools will implement new security measures beginning with the 2026-2027 School Year. The new security initiatives will include implementation of a "Clear Bag" procedure and the utilization of metal detection devices during home football and basketball games at McDowell High School. These new initiatives are not ground-breaking in nature and have already been adopted by several of our surrounding Districts. The metal detection devices were purchased with funds received from the Department of Justice after McDowell County Schools successfully applied for a grant. We are very grateful for this grant and the continued partnerships we share with our local law enforcement partners. In particular, the McDowell County Sheriff's Office expertly assisted us during a recent security assessment which allowed us to utilize a portion of the grant funds in support of this very important initiative. Signage giving notice of the intent to use metal detection devices (walk-thru detectors and hand-held wands) as well as to conduct security searches will be clearly permanently posted outside the entrances to Titan Stadium and Titan Gymnasium. The Clear Bag Procedure and a section of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found on the McDowell County School website at https://www.mcdowell.k12.nc.us/departments/athleticshigh-school-middle-school and will be shared with students, parents and guardians in upcoming Class DoJo messages. Signage for the new procedure will be set outside the main entrances to both venues in the form of a large, 24"x36" bi-fold sign. While these initiatives are new to our district and may take some time for everyone to get accustomed to, we know that these simple steps will help safeguard our students, faculty, staff and patrons and any time we work to improve safety, we are taking a step in the right direction. Thank you for your support, attention to this important matter and commitment to McDowell High School Titan Athletics.

Sincerely,
M. Chad Marsh, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Auxiliary Services & Athletics

08/03/2026