McDowell: Schools & Education
2 public schools serve McDowell. Highland High is the largest at 103 students (grades 6-12). Total enrollment: 200 students.
- ~29 residents per school (vs Virginia ~501).
K-12 Schools
2 K-12 schools serving the area — about 29 residents per school. 5.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. average ~35%).
Schools (2)
| School Districts · Districts | Highland County Public Schools |
|---|---|
| School Districts · Total count | 1 |
| School Districts · Nces Lea Ids | 5101950 |
| School Statistics · Total Schools | 2 |
| School Statistics · Total Enrollment | 200 |
| School Statistics · Total Teachers | 24 |
| School Statistics · Student Teacher Ratio | 8.30 |
| School Statistics · Free Lunch Students | 74 |
| School Statistics · Free Lunch Pct | 37.0% |
| Schools Count | 2 |
Sources: NCES LEA assignment from schools in this city · NCES CCD 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Higher Education
Colleges and universities within commuting range, plus IPEDS scorecard data on enrollment, completion, and net price.
| Colleges · Nearest | Future Generations University |
|---|---|
| Colleges · Nearest Distance Miles | 22.9 mi |
| Nearest College · Name | Future Generations University |
| Nearest College · City | Franklin |
| Nearest College · Phone | (304) 358-2000 |
| Nearest College · Distance | 22.9 mi |
Sources: NCES IPEDS 2022 — no colleges within 3 miles · NCES IPEDS 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Libraries
Public libraries from IMLS Public Libraries Survey — visits, circulation, and service-area population.
| Nearest Library · Name | HIGHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY |
|---|---|
| Nearest Library · Phone | (540) 468-2373 |
| Nearest Library · Address | 31 N. WATER STREET, MONTEREY VA 24465 |
| Nearest Library · Distance | 0.4 mi |
Other
Libraries (1)
HIGHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
| Pct Bachelors Plus | 5.3% |
|---|
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12