Total enrollment
4,027
-128 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Marion County
Tennessee · Public K-12
13 public K-12 schools, roughly 4,027 students, one county, 29,250 residents. That is Marion County, Tennessee on the numbers. The level mix is 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Marion County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
12
+1 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Marion County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Tennessee | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,027 | #50 of 90 | #1,529 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 12 | #44 of 90 | N/A |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 27.6% | #53 of 90 | #1,883 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
29,250
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
2 districts
Enrollment
4,027
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,824
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
5
1,883 students
Middle
2
675 students
High
5
1,286 students
Combined / other
1
183 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Marion County Public Schools
3,844 students · 2 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+
17.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.1%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.3% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Whitwell High School· 44.4%
- Marion Co High School· 40.5%
- Jasper Elementary School· 39.6%
- Whitwell Middle School· 38.7%
- Whitwell Elementary· 37.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Richard Hardy Memorial School· 19.6%
- Jasper Middle School· 24.6%
- South Pittsburg High School· 29.2%
- South Pittsburg Elementary· 32.4%
- Monteagle Elementary· 32.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper Elementary School | Jasper | Elementary | PK-04 | 650 | · |
| Marion Co High School | Jasper | High | 09-12 | 543 | · |
| South Pittsburg Elementary | South Pittsburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 515 | · |
| Whitwell Elementary | Whitwell | Elementary | PK-04 | 482 | · |
| South Pittsburg High School | South Pittsburg | High | 07-12 | 416 | · |
| Jasper Middle School | Jasper | Middle | 05-08 | 395 | · |
| Whitwell High School | Whitwell | High | 09-12 | 298 | · |
| Whitwell Middle School | Whitwell | Middle | 05-08 | 280 | · |
| Monteagle Elementary | Monteagle | Elementary | PK-08 | 233 | · |
| Richard Hardy Memorial School | South Pittsburg | Combined | PK-12 | 183 | · |
| Marion Virtual High School | Jasper | High | 06-12 | 29 | · |
| Marion Virtual Elementary School | Jasper | Elementary | KG-05 | 3 | · |
| Central Prep Academy | Jasper | High | 10-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Across the small Tennessee county of Marion County of about 29,250 residents, the public-school footprint covers 13 schools and about 4,027 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,824, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%.
On the school-mix side, Marion County covers 5 elementary schools (1,883 students), 2 middle schools (675), 5 high schools (1,286), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Marion County is Marion County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,844 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 4,155 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,027 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Marion County added 1 school, going from 11 to 12.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Marion County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data