Total enrollment
5,571
+130 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Iowa · Public K-12
Across all districts in Marion County, public schools number 17 and enroll approximately 5,571 K-12 students (8 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high).
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 76.1% | #28 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,571 | #19 of 90 | #1,226 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 17 | #18 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #57 of 90 | #1,363 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 29.3% | #78 of 90 | #2,405 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 20.6% | #61 of 89 | #2,125 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
33,642
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
17
5 districts
Enrollment
5,571
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,680
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
29.3%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
8
2,408 students
Middle
4
1,320 students
High
5
1,843 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pella Comm School District
2,462 students · 5 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+
32.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.2%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.1% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Pella High School· 90.3%
- Pella Middle School· 89.8%
- Jefferson Intermediate· 84.4%
- Pleasantville Elementary· 79.9%
- Lincoln Elementary School· 78.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Northstar Elementary School· 62.5%
- Melcher-Dallas Elementary· 63.1%
- Pleasantville High School· 67.1%
- Melcher-Dallas High School· 69.0%
- Pleasantville Middle School· 71.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pella High School | Pella | High | 09-12 | 801 | · |
| Knoxville High School | Knoxville | High | 09-12 | 508 | · |
| Jefferson Intermediate | Pella | Middle | 04-06 | 494 | · |
| West Elementary | Knoxville | Elementary | PK-02 | 485 | · |
| Pleasantville Elementary | Pleasantville | Elementary | PK-06 | 456 | · |
| Madison Elementary School | Pella | Elementary | PK-03 | 401 | · |
| Pella Middle School | Pella | Middle | 07-08 | 375 | · |
| Northstar Elementary School | Knoxville | Elementary | 03-05 | 348 | · |
| Knoxville Middle School | Knoxville | Middle | 06-08 | 323 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Pella | Elementary | PK-03 | 254 | · |
| Pleasantville High School | Pleasantville | High | 09-12 | 241 | · |
| Twin Cedars Elementary School | Bussey | Elementary | PK-06 | 170 | · |
| Melcher-Dallas Elementary | Dallas | Elementary | PK-06 | 157 | · |
| Melcher-Dallas High School | Melcher | High | 07-12 | 151 | · |
| Twin Cedars Jr-Sr High School | Bussey | High | 07-12 | 142 | · |
| Viersen Early Learning Center | Pella | Elementary | PK-PK | 137 | · |
| Pleasantville Middle School | Pleasantville | Middle | 07-08 | 128 | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a small Iowa county of about 33,642 residents, home to 17 public schools and roughly 5,571 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $78,680, 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 10% meaningfully above the Iowa median.
On the school-mix side, Marion County is made up of 8 elementary schools (2,408 students), 4 middle schools (1,320), and 5 high schools (1,843).
Pella Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,462 students across Marion County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Marion County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 5,441 students to 5,571. The school count climbed from 16 to 17 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Marion County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data