Total enrollment
45,972
+5,070 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Florida · Public K-12
Public schools in Marion County, Florida total 68, with combined enrollment of about 46,349 students against a county population of 400,078. That breaks down as 40 elementary, 10 middle, and 14 high.
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
59
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Florida | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.1% | #56 of 63 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 46,349 | #20 of 65 | #230 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 62 | #18 of 65 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 18.7:1 | #50 of 65 | #2,513 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 56.6% | #16 of 65 | #1,271 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 68.8% | #9 of 64 | #149 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Marion County school rankings
Residents
400,078
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
68
1 districts
Enrollment
46,349
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,010
Below Florida avg
Free/reduced lunch
56.6%
Above Florida avg
Elementary
40
22,495 students
Middle
10
9,517 students
High
14
14,120 students
Combined / other
4
217 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MARION
46,349 students · 1 district in Marion County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Marion County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
23.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
48
18.8% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 50 schools ranked. Florida state average: 57.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- OAKCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 29.1%
- FESSENDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 30.7%
- WYOMINA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 31.5%
- LEGACY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 32.3%
- COLLEGE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 32.5%
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a population-heavy county of about 400,078 residents in Florida. Its public-school system educates approximately 46,349 students across 68 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,010 a year, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 11% lower than the Florida median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Marion County covers 40 elementary schools (22,495 students), 10 middle schools (9,517), 14 high schools (14,120), and 4 combined or other schools.
MARION dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 46,349 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 45,972 students, expanded 12% from the 40,902 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 58 to 59 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Marion County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data