Total enrollment
12,492
+1,025 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Ohio · Public K-12
The schools list below covers the full public K-12 directory for Marion County: 27 campuses, 12,492 students, Marion City as the largest district. The level mix is 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
24
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 12,492 | #31 of 88 | #692 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 24 | #38 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 18.4:1 | #75 of 88 | #2,493 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 53.0% | #29 of 78 | #1,476 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 35.1% | #27 of 88 | #1,649 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
65,020
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
27
9 districts
Enrollment
12,492
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$59,371
Below Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
53.0%
Above Ohio avg
Elementary
12
4,519 students
Middle
4
2,093 students
High
7
3,715 students
Combined / other
4
2,165 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Marion City
4,040 students · 9 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+
14.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
21.3% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 23 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- River Valley High School· 76.3%
- Heritage Elementary School· 75.3%
- Pleasant High School· 75.2%
- Elgin High School· 73.6%
- Pleasant Middle School· 66.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Marion County is a moderately sized Ohio county of about 65,020 residents, home to 27 public schools and roughly 12,492 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $59,371 a year, 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 15% below the Ohio median.
For a sense of the school types, Marion County is made up of 12 elementary schools (4,519 students), 4 middle schools (2,093), 7 high schools (3,715), and 4 combined or other schools.
Marion City dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,040 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Marion County has rose 9% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 11,467 students to 12,492. Over that span, Marion County added 1 school, going from 23 to 24.
On this page, the community for Marion County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data