Total enrollment
3,633
-945 (-21%) vs SY 2017-18
Marion County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Marion County reports 10 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 28,664, with an average school size of 363 students. By grade band, the county runs 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Marion County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
-1 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
14%
was 19%
% Hispanic
5%
was 3%
% Black
76%
was 75%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
1 districts
Enrollment
3,633
NCES CCD
Median income
$36,301
Below South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
5
1,812 students
Middle
2
692 students
High
3
1,129 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Marion 10
3,633 students · 1 district 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+
14.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
22.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.2%
civilian labor
Median age
43
22.1% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Marion Intermediate· 45.5%
- Creek Bridge STEM Academy· 40.4%
- Palmetto Middle· 37.2%
- McCormick Elementary· 34.3%
- Johnakin Middle· 33.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High | Marion | High | 09-12 | 572 | · |
| Mullins High | Mullins | High | 09-12 | 557 | · |
| Easterling Primary | Marion | Elementary | PK-02 | 431 | · |
| Johnakin Middle | Marion | Middle | 06-08 | 395 | · |
| Marion Intermediate | Marion | Elementary | 03-05 | 390 | · |
| North Mullins Primary | Mullins | Elementary | PK-02 | 372 | · |
| Creek Bridge STEM Academy | Marion | Elementary | PK-08 | 324 | · |
| Palmetto Middle | Mullins | Middle | 06-08 | 297 | · |
| McCormick Elementary | Mullins | Elementary | 03-05 | 295 | · |
| Academy for Careers and Technology | Mullins | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Across the small South Carolina county of Marion County of about 28,664 residents, the public-school footprint covers 10 schools and about 3,633 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $36,301, about 15% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 22%. That income level is 38% meaningfully below the South Carolina median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Marion County is built around 5 elementary schools (1,812 students), 2 middle schools (692), and 3 high schools (1,129).
The largest single district in Marion County is Marion 10, which alone enrolls about 3,633 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 21%: 4,578 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,633 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 10 to 9 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 19% to 14%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Marion County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Marion County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data