Enrollment falls below 2,000; district is over its state staffing formula

What happened

McDowell County Schools has lost about 1,111 students since 2016, a 36% drop. In October 2026 the superintendent said enrollment was 1,987, down 104 from last year. The district is 15 teaching positions and 42 to 43 service positions over what the state funding formula pays for, which staff said costs about $2.5 million a year from local money.

Why it matters to families

The superintendent said the next staffing year "is going to be brutal" and that, without help from the legislature, "we'll have to keep on closing the schools."

The evidence

In the March 5, 2026 recording, staff say "we lost 1,111 students" and "it would be 2.5 million coming out of our local budget." In the October 20 recording, the superintendent says "we ended up with 1,987" and "this year is going to be brutal um in terms of looking at the staffing."

The source