Total enrollment
2,153
-114 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Marion County
Kansas · Public K-12
Across 11 public schools, Marion County, Kansas serves roughly 2,153 K-12 students, roughly 1 in 5 residents. By level, that breaks down as 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Marion County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
+1 (+10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 87%
% Hispanic
10%
was 7%
% Black
5%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
5 districts
Enrollment
2,153
NCES CCD
Median income
$64,695
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.6%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
4
746 students
Middle
1
119 students
High
4
725 students
Combined / other
2
563 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh
596 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+
30.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.4%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hillsboro Elem· 63.8%
- Centre· 57.5%
- Marion Elem· 53.7%
- Hillsboro Middle/High School· 51.0%
- Goessel High· 49.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Peabody-Burns Jr/Sr High School· 25.0%
- Peabody-Burns Elementary· 33.3%
- Marion High· 37.8%
- Kansas Online Learning Program· 40.5%
- Goessel Elem· 48.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Online Learning Program | Lost Springs | Combined | KG-12 | 380 | · |
| Hillsboro Middle/High School | Hillsboro | High | 06-12 | 310 | · |
| Hillsboro Elem | Hillsboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 286 | · |
| Marion Elem | Marion | Elementary | PK-05 | 238 | · |
| Centre | Lost Springs | Combined | PK-12 | 183 | · |
| Marion High | Marion | High | 09-12 | 159 | · |
| Goessel High | Goessel | High | 06-12 | 154 | · |
| Marion Middle | Marion | Middle | 06-08 | 119 | · |
| Goessel Elem | Goessel | Elementary | PK-05 | 118 | · |
| Peabody-Burns Elementary | Peabody | Elementary | PK-05 | 104 | · |
| Peabody-Burns Jr/Sr High School | Peabody | High | 06-12 | 102 | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a low-population Kansas county of about 11,754 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 2,153 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $64,695, 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Marion County spans 4 elementary schools (746 students), 1 middle school (119), 4 high schools (725), and 2 combined or other schools.
Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 596 students across Marion County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Marion County has shrank 5% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,267 students to 2,153. Marion County now counts 11 public schools, up from 10 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 87% to 80%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Marion County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Marion County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data