McDowell County Schools

09/09/2026

🚀 Our back to school journey lands at Glenwood Elementary School! 🐉✨

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a new school year, and our Glenwood Elementary Dragons are already making this one special! 💙📚

The first days back have been filled with happy smiles, new friendships, lots of learning, and plenty of excitement as students settle into their classrooms and routines. From reconnecting with familiar faces to meeting new teachers and friends, our Dragons are beginning another year filled with opportunities to explore, discover, learn, and grow! 🌟

For our youngest learners especially, every day brings something new—a new skill to master, a new friendship to build, a new question to ask, or a new memory to make. ❤️

These opening days are just the beginning, and we can't wait to see all the places learning will take our Glenwood Dragons this year!

🚀 MCS: Sharing Our Out of This World Story!

09/04/2026

🚀 MCS: Sharing Our Out of This World Story!

Our Back-to-School journey continues with a stop at McDowell High School, where the Titans are kicking off another year of learning, growth, opportunity, and unforgettable experiences! 💙📚

The beginning of a new school year at MHS brings plenty of excitement—from reconnecting with friends and teachers to finding new classes, settling into new routines, and discovering the opportunities that lie ahead.

For some Titans, this year marks the beginning of their high school journey. For others, it’s the start of a final year filled with milestones and memories. And for everyone in between, it’s another opportunity to learn something new, take on a challenge, get involved, build relationships, and prepare for what comes next. 🎓✨

The photos from these opening days capture just a glimpse of the energy and excitement that comes with having our Titans back on campus—and we know there are many more great moments ahead!

Here’s to a great 2026–2027 school year at McDowell High School!

09/03/2026

🚀 3..2..1..More of Our Out of This World Story Takes Flight! 🌟

The adventure continues across McDowell County Schools! From team-building challenges and first-week excitement to college classes and new opportunities, our students are starting 2026–2027 by connecting, exploring, learning, and growing together.

Today, our Back-to-School journey takes us to Foothills Community School, Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, and McDowell Early College! 📚✨

🏕️ Foothills Community School — Survivors ready? FCS kicked off its Survivor-themed year with the 3rd Annual trip to Camp Grier! Students and staff took on team-building activities, challenges, games, and opportunities to step outside their comfort zones. Along the way, they showed that every great adventure is better when you work together. The Survivor: FCS adventure has officially begun! 🔥💪

💙 Pleasant Gardens Elementary — The halls at PGE are once again filled with smiles, laughter, learning, and excitement! Students jumped into an amazing first week, supported by teachers, staff, and administrators who put in countless hours of preparation and plenty of heart to make their return special. The year is off to a fantastic start! 🌟📚

🎓 McDowell Early College — A new year at MEC means new beginnings AND new opportunities! From welcoming the newest 9th graders and building connections through Summer Bridge at Carowinds to clubs and the start of both high school and college classes, MEC students are already embracing the experiences that make their school journey so unique. 💙✨

Whether tackling a challenge, walking into a new classroom, or beginning a college course, our students are discovering just how far learning can take them. 🌎

Different adventures. Different paths. One MCS story. 💫

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09/03/2026

09/02/2026

🚀 The MCS Back to School Journey Continues! 🌟

New friendships. New routines. New opportunities. And plenty of excitement! Across McDowell County Schools, our students and staff are settling in and setting the stage for an out-of-this-world year! 💫

Today, we’re sharing back-to-school moments from Marion Elementary, East McDowell Middle School, and West McDowell Middle School! 📚

🐾 Marion Elementary — Our Bulldogs are off to a fantastic start! Smiling faces, new friendships, fun learning, and eager minds filled the first days back. We love seeing our youngest learners jump into a new year ready to learn, grow, and make memories together! ❤️📚

⚔️ East McDowell Middle School — The Trojans came back READY! From Chromebook distribution and new schedules to new faces and lots of enthusiasm, EMMS hit the ground running. Students and staff alike brought the energy, and they’re ready to make 2026–2027 the best year yet! 💪

🐾 West McDowell Middle School — West is getting back into the swing of middle school life! Students are reconnecting with friends, diving into classes, participating in WIN time, meeting with their grade levels, and getting comfortable with their daily routines. The halls are once again filled with learning, laughter, and plenty of energy! 📚✨

From our elementary classrooms to our middle school hallways, every smile, connection, challenge, and success becomes another part of the story we’re telling together.

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09/01/2026

🚀 Our Back to School Story Continues! 🌟

Across McDowell County Schools, classrooms are buzzing, friendships are forming, and students are diving into new experiences! Today, our Out of This World Story takes us to Eastfield Global Magnet School, Nebo Elementary School, and North Cove Elementary! 📚✨

🌎 Since mid-July, Eastfield has already packed a whole lot of adventure into the school year! Students have been learning routines and procedures while also taking their learning beyond the classroom with community field trips, building science eco-columns, making ice cream, earning Dojos and badges—and even discovering a turtle or two on the playground! 🐢🔬🍦 Learning is happening everywhere at Eastfield!

🏠 Nebo Elementary launched an exciting new tradition by sorting 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders into their new "houses!" The energy was electric as students discovered their teams and celebrated together. More than a little friendly competition, the house system will help build **belonging, connection, teamwork, and school spirit** throughout the year. We can’t wait to see where this new tradition takes them! 🎉

💙 North Cove Elementary welcomed students back with smiling faces, new friendships, and lots of excitement for the year ahead! Students are already back to learning, growing, and creating the memories that make their elementary years so special. 📚🍎

And we’re just getting started! Stay tuned as we continue traveling across our district and sharing the people, moments, and experiences that make McDowell County Schools truly out of this world! 🚀💫

08/31/2026

From the MCS Exceptional Children's Department: New Resource for Families of Students with Visual Impairments!
McDowell County Schools is excited to share the new Governor Morehead School Outreach Page—a one-stop resource designed to connect families and educators with programs, opportunities, important dates, and support for students with visual impairments across North Carolina.

Families can explore information about Summer Learning Programs, Short Course Weekends, campus opportunities, family connections, and more!

🔗 Explore the GMS Outreach Page: https://bit.ly/40pQfje

We are grateful for resources and partnerships that help us ensure every student and family has access to the support and opportunities they need to grow and succeed! 💙

08/31/2026

🚀 BACK TO SCHOOL: OUR STORY IS TAKING OFF! 🌟

The 2026–2027 school year is officially underway, and our schools are already giving us plenty of reasons to celebrate! This week, we’re highlighting Summit Academy, McDowell Academy for Innovation, and West Marion Elementary School as they launch into a new year of learning, connection, and opportunity. 📚✨

🏔️ Summit Academy kicked off the year with smiles, laughter, and plenty of positive energy as students and staff reconnected and settled back into their routines. They’re already living their mission of Climbing Higher, Caring Deeper, and Leading Stronger!

🎢 McDowell Academy of Innovation started the adventure before the first bell even rang! From rollercoasters at Carowinds to teamwork at Camp Grier, MAI’s summer bridge experiences helped students build connections and get ready to crush the year ahead!

⭐ West Marion Elementary is heading to infinity and beyond! WMES Panthers filled the halls with smiles, learning, hard work, and excitement during an incredible first week. With friendship at the heart of their adventure, West Marion is ready for a year that’s truly out of this world! 🚀🐾

These are just a few of the moments happening across McDowell County Schools as our students and staff begin another exciting year. Every school has a story. Every student is part of it. And we can’t wait to share it. 💫

🚀 MCS: Sharing Our Out of This World Story!

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