Recent ActivityMcDowell High continues to receive recognition for academic excellence. The Teacher Cadet class has been observed by a delegation from Washington D.C. and from Raleigh and then recognized nationally for its innovation. The class is one of only three such classes in the state in which the students receive college credit. The NJROTC Academic Team consistently ranks in the top 2% in the nation. The graduating class of 1998, consisting of approximately 350 students, received over $1.6 million in scholarship offers. In the 1998-99 school year, one of our seniors was the recipient of the High School Heisman Award, and a student from our school has been awarded the Morehead Scholarship three of the last five years.
Information  Student Gmail LoginAccess by clicking "Gmail Login" from the [Students] menu or go to http://gmail.mcdowellstudents.com/.
Username is firstname + last four digits of student ID. Example: david1234 Password is “mcdowell” + last four digits of SSN. Example: mcdowell5678 Address is firstname + last four digits of student ID + @mcdowellstudents.com. Example: david1234@mcdowellstudents.com  New Quilt Square DedicatedOn Friday, November 5th, 2010, a ceremony was held at noon to dedicate our new quilt square. Many students and staff were in attendance.
With the new quilt square mounted, McDowell High School joins the Appalachian Quilt Trail in support of our mountain heritage.  A Brief History of the establishing of McDowell High SchoolBy Wayne L. Greene McDowell High School was established in 1971, thus the date on the school seal. The school building was scheduled to be completed by the spring of 1971. However, it was not completed until November of that year. Rather than attempt to relocate in the middle of a school year, the newly consolidated (McDowell County and Marion City) school board decided to delay the move until the following 1972-73 school year. The 6 community schools continued during the 1971-72 school year as McDowell High School with one football team, one basketball team, one yearbook, etc. The seniors received the first McDowell High diploma even though there were actually 6 graduation services. The building was first occupied by the second graduating class of MHS students, 1972-73. Football games were played on the East Jr. High field for the first few years until the MHS football field was constructed. The MHS gym originally had a special red Tartan Floor which permitted any type of shoe to be worn on it. From the beginning and continuing for the first few years, crimson red was the dominant school color with blue and silver as minor accent colors. The official school symbol was a block style red "T" of the same style as the University of Tennessee “T”. During the fall of 1979, Bobby Norris designed the Titan "Star and M” with a red M on a blue and white star outline and presented it to the athletic department. The new design was adopted and quickly became popular with the school and community. Since then, blue has been the dominant school color with red and silver as minor colors. The Titan Star is now proudly worn and recognized by all graduates and citizens of McDowell County as the official Titan emblem. Student ParkingAll students wishing to drive to school will need to complete a series of forms.
Also, according to a North Carolina state law, students who do not pass at least 3 out of 4 classes each semester will have their driver's licenses revoked. McDowell High School must report these students to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Contact: The Security Guard Summer School and Summer EnrichmentSummer School is available for students who fail a course. Enrichment is available for students who lose credit in a course due to having too many absences.
Contact: Mr. Price Student Web Site RegistrationHere's the good news! You should already be registered! Login to the web site the same way that you login to the computers at school with your 6-digit ID and last-4-digit SSN as your password.
Once you login for the first time, you can click on [My Personal Settings] from the new curtain menu that appears over the logo and change your login, your password, your email, and other aspects of your account. That page even functions as a personal home page with links to all of the classes, clubs, and teams that you have joined. Student Web Site Login Workplace Leadership Program (WLP)On Oct. 30, 2006 representatives from the McDowell Economic Development Board (MEDA), McDowell Tech, JobLink and industry representatives announced the creation of the Workplace Leadership Program (WLP). WLP is an opportunity for students interested in manufacturing jobs to better prepare for the workplace and for MHS to connect with our industry stakeholders.
Finding Your Way Around MHSEssentially, the main building is a big square centered around the media center. It has an upper and lower floor and houses the academic classes. With a few exceptions, all classes are grouped into hallways:
Project PassProject Pass is a program offered to students who fail a required English, Math, Science or Social Studies course. In order to be eligible for Project Pass the student must fail with a grade no less than 60 or have permission from the teacher.
The program runs from 3:15 until 4:30, Monday through Thursday for four weeks. Students attend a minimum of one week and a maximum of four weeks depending on the amount of work required to bring the grade up. The student's teacher will provide assignments. Upon successful completion of Project Pass the student's six-weeks grade will become a 70. (Students who score below a 60 must have teacher permission to attend and may or may not bring the grade up to 70. That is at the discretion of the classroom teacher.) Students may participate in the program one time per semester per course. Check the School Calendar for dates and times. Contact: Counseling OriginMcDowell High School (MHS) was established in 1971. The building of the school was scheduled to be completed by the spring of 1971, however, it was not completed until November. Rather than attempt to move into the new building in the middle of a school year, the new consolidated school board (McDowell County and Marion City) decided to delay the move until the following school year. The 6 individual community schools continued until the following year as McDowell High School with one football team, one basketball team, one yearbook, etc. The graduating seniors of 1972 received the first McDowell High diploma even though there were actually 6 graduation services. The current building was first occupied by the second graduating class of MHS. Therefore, 1971 is the date on the school seal and this is correct even though the building was not occupied until the 1972-1973 school year. School Calendar Color CodesThe McDowell High School Calendar is color-coded. You will find:
Annual EnrollmentSchool Year:
NC State Board of Education Guiding Mission"The guiding mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st Century."
MottoOur School Motto is "Everyone Learns Every Day."
ColorsThe official colors of McDowell High School are Scarlet, Royal Blue, and Silver. Most people generalize these colors as just Red and Blue, sometimes keeping the Silver and sometimes substituting White, but that is a mistake. Over the years the Scarlet has just about disappeared, but it is still evident in many of our Logos.
Historically, graduating classes wore outfits that were Navy in color due to limitations in the availability of more appropriate colors. However, starting with the class of 2004 a more appropriate Blue uniform was used and marked a pleasant change in our school's graduation proceedings. Alma MaterThe first official performance of the McDowell High "Alma Mater" was on November 11, 1976, during a McDowell High School Band Concert. The first live performance of the McDowell High "Alma Mater" took place during a football game in the fall of 1976. The words were composed by Mrs. Alice Ostrom, a noted North Carolina poet, and Angela Israel, a student of Captain Ostrom. The musical score was composed by Capt. Ralph K. Ostrom, Ret. In addition to having served as band director at Marion High, Captain Ostrom studied with the United States Army Band and was director of the Tenth Division Band Training School. Captain Ostrom died in December, 1984, at the age of 76.
Alma Mater Lyrics Amidst the mountains blue Our alma mater stands Where echoes fill our dreams Of peace throughout the land Though time should part our ways Our hearts still turn to you McDowell High we raise our shield And pledge our trust anew Alma Mater Music See the folder at right. Graduation Honor Cords
Grading Scale (7-Point)
Free (and Reduced Lunch) MoneyDid you know that schools receive FREE MONEY based on the number of students participating in the Free and Reduced Lunch program? If your child qualifies, turn in the Free and Reduced Lunch form at the beginning of each school year. You'll save some money and earn some money for MHS too!
Parent Web Site RegistrationParents will be able to monitor their child's homework and receive email messages from teachers. Registering is a simple, three-step process.
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