Total enrollment
3,433
-144 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Marion County hosts 13 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 3,667 Mississippi students across 4 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
+1 (+11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 60.5% | #25 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,667 | #35 of 73 | #1,631 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #24 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #46 of 73 | #1,362 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 89.2% | #27 of 73 | #295 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 55.7% | #25 of 70 | #807 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
24,193
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
3 districts
Enrollment
3,667
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$45,110
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
89.2%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
4
1,559 students
Middle
4
1,061 students
High
5
1,047 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Marion County School District
1,794 students · 3 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+
13.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.4% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Columbia Primary School· 60.0%
- WEST MARION PRIMARY SCHOOL· 57.3%
- Columbia Elementary School· 54.5%
- Columbia High School· 51.4%
- WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL· 50.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 37.0%
- EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOL· 41.4%
- Jefferson Middle School· 44.9%
- WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL· 50.0%
- Columbia High School· 51.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School | Columbia | High | 09-12 | 484 | · |
| Columbia Primary School | Columbia | Elementary | PK-02 | 448 | · |
| WEST MARION PRIMARY SCHOOL | Foxworth | Elementary | PK-04 | 435 | · |
| Columbia Elementary School | Columbia | Elementary | 03-05 | 378 | · |
| WEST MARION MIDDLE SCHOOL | Foxworth | Middle | 05-08 | 355 | · |
| WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL | Foxworth | High | 09-13 | 347 | · |
| Jefferson Middle School | Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 329 | · |
| EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Columbia | Elementary | PK-05 | 298 | · |
| WEST MARION ELEMENTARY | Foxworth | Middle | 04-06 | 234 | · |
| EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOL | Columbia | High | 09-13 | 216 | · |
| EAST MARION MIDDLE SCHOOL | Columbia | Middle | 06-08 | 143 | · |
| MARION CO ALT SCHOOL | Columbia | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
| MARION CO VOC COMPLEX | Columbia | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a sparse county of about 24,193 residents in Mississippi. Its public-school system serves approximately 3,667 students across 13 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $45,110, about 14% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 16% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% lower than the Mississippi median.
On the school-mix side, Marion County is built around 4 elementary schools (1,559 students), 4 middle schools (1,061), and 5 high schools (1,047).
Marion County School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,794 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 4%: 3,577 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,433 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Marion County added 1 school, going from 9 to 10.
Within the allk12 community for this area, 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