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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.

7-year change in Marion County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,433
-288 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
+1 (+11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
51%
was 53%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
42%
was 44%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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
White
64%
Hispanic
2%
Black
32%
Asian
0%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
52%
Hispanic
2%
Black
41%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
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 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.

See all 8 schools in Marion County ranked by score →

All schools (13)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Columbia High SchoolColumbiaHigh09-12484·
Columbia Primary SchoolColumbiaElementaryPK-02448·
WEST MARION PRIMARY SCHOOLFoxworthElementaryPK-04435·
Columbia Elementary SchoolColumbiaElementary03-05378·
WEST MARION MIDDLE SCHOOLFoxworthMiddle05-08355·
WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOLFoxworthHigh09-13347·
Jefferson Middle SchoolColumbiaMiddle06-08329·
EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOLColumbiaElementaryPK-05298·
WEST MARION ELEMENTARYFoxworthMiddle04-06234·
EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOLColumbiaHigh09-13216·
EAST MARION MIDDLE SCHOOLColumbiaMiddle06-08143·
MARION CO ALT SCHOOLColumbiaHighUG-UG0·
MARION CO VOC COMPLEXColumbiaHigh09-120·

Cities in Marion County

Columbia8 schoolsFoxworth4 schoolsColumbia1 school

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 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 8%: 3,721 students in SY 2017-18 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

How many K-12 schools serve Marion County?
There are 13 public K-12 schools in Marion County, Mississippi, with a combined enrollment of about 3,667.
How many high schools are in Marion County?
Marion County, Mississippi has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,047 students.
How many middle schools are in Marion County?
Marion County, Mississippi has 4 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,061 students.
How many elementary schools are in Marion County?
Marion County, Mississippi has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,559 students.
What is the largest school district in Marion County?
Marion County School District is the largest school district in Marion County, serving approximately 1,794 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Marion County?
Marion County has roughly 24,193 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Marion County?
Median household income in Marion County is $45,110, below the Mississippi average of $49,977. About 15.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Marion County?
Approximately 13.7% of adults 25 and older in Marion County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Marion County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 89.2% of students in Marion County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Mississippi county average of 82.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Marion County schools?
Across Marion County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.4 to 1.

Marion County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data