Total enrollment
160,640
+2,584 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Indiana · Public K-12
The 274 public K-12 schools in Marion County cover all standard grade bands (158 elementary, 37 middle, and 50 high), with combined enrollment around 161,456.
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
248
+12 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Indiana | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 26.7% | #80 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 161,456 | #1 of 91 | #49 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 252 | #1 of 91 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.7:1 | #73 of 91 | #1,992 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 60.3% | #11 of 91 | #1,110 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 72.4% | #1 of 91 | #47 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
975,809
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
274
89 districts
Enrollment
161,456
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$66,346
Below Indiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
60.3%
Above Indiana avg
Elementary
158
74,522 students
Middle
37
28,260 students
High
50
49,416 students
Combined / other
29
9,258 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Indianapolis Public Schools
21,055 students · 89 districts 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+
34.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
34
25.0% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 191 schools ranked. Indiana state average: 39.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a high-population county of about 975,809 residents in Indiana. Its public-school system teaches approximately 161,456 students across 274 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $66,346 a year, about 35% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 6% below the Indiana median.
In terms of grade levels, Marion County comprises 158 elementary schools (74,522 students), 37 middle schools (28,260), 50 high schools (49,416), and 29 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Marion County is Indianapolis Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 21,055 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 158,056 students in SY 2020-21 versus 160,640 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 236 to 248 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Marion County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data