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Vernon Middle School

Q: Is Vernon Middle School a good school?

Vernon Middle School ranks 170 th of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

170^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 344 Iowa Middle Schools

Better than 51% of Iowa middle schools

Summary

Vernon Middle School is a public middle school located in Marion, Iowa, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 621 students. The school is part of the Marion Independent School District, which is ranked 166 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Vernon Middle School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 73.7% of 5th graders at Vernon Middle School were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 69.8%. In mathematics, 82.7% of 5th graders were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 71.5%. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 14.1 to 16.4 over the past few years, which is lower than many of the nearby schools.

When compared to the nearby schools, such as Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy and Wilson Middle School, Vernon Middle School stands out as a relatively high-performing school. For instance, in the 2024-2025 school year, Vernon Middle School's 7th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate of 81.4% was significantly higher than the state average of 74.9% and the Marion Independent School District average of 81.4%. Additionally, Vernon Middle School has maintained a relatively consistent performance over the past several years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 112 to 237 out of 300-400 Iowa middle schools.

587

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,914

Per pupil spending ?

37.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1350 4th Avenue
Marion, IA 52302

(319) 377-9401

District: Marion Independent School District

Students who attend Vernon Middle School usually attend:

High:

Marion High School

Feeder schools for Vernon Middle School:

Elementary:	Francis Marion Intermediate School
	Longfellow Elementary
	Parkview Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.1%

Two or more races:

6.8%

Hispanic:

6.5%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare Vernon Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 29th percentile in 2023 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 51st (2025) from a 29th-percentile low (2023)

✓Above the Iowa median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (30% vs 22% Iowa)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school76%

District avg76%

Iowa avg72%

170^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 17 pts since 2015

From top 32% (2015) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

166^th of 313Marion Independent School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	170 of 344	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.2	177 of 337	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.4	237 of 334	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.8	226 of 337	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.5	211 of 324	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.7	124 of 342	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.7	163 of 318	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	62.4	120 of 327	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	55.2	166 of 343	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	66.1	112 of 349	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	73.6	63 of 337	81.3%	★★★★☆
2013	71.6	62 of 350	82.3%	★★★★☆
2012	58.1	141 of 349	59.6%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics79%+7 vs state

English Language Arts77%~ state avg

Science69%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Vernon Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)				ISASP Mathematics (2025)				ISASP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Vernon Middle School	Public	5-8	1350 4th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Marion Independent School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 377-9401	587	46	12.8	37.8%	470 (80.1%)	31 (5.3%)	38 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.9%)	40 (6.8%)	55.2	170^th of 344 public middle schools	50.6%		54.2	177^th of 337 public middle schools	47.5%	7	73.7	69.5	81.4	80.4	82.7	78.6	76.4	79.1	66.2	71.4	$11,914	$388	$11,527
Excelsior Middle School	Public	7-8	3555 N 10th St	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3130	594	45	13.2	28.5%	469 (79.0%)	35 (5.9%)	35 (5.9%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.1%)	65.9	111^th of 344 public middle schools	67.7%		75.4	62^nd of 337 public middle schools	81.6%	49			83.2	88.8			82.1	76.8		72.6	$13,096	$300	$12,796
Boulder Peak Intermediate School	Public	5-6	3920 35th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 200-1700	613	45	13.6	31.5%	481 (78.5%)	31 (5.1%)	30 (4.9%)	17 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (8.6%)								(n/a)	70.3	79.5			66.7	78.3			61.4
Harding Middle School	Public	6-8	4801 Golf ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2254	710	44	15.9	43.8%	472 (66.5%)	48 (6.8%)	84 (11.8%)	28 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.1%)	69 (9.7%)	56.3	163^rd of 344 public middle schools	52.6%		53.8	178^th of 337 public middle schools	47.2%	15		67.7	77.8	83.2		72.9	76.4	81.5		81.5	$14,559	$562	$13,997
Oak Ridge Middle School	Public	7-8	4901 Alburnett Road	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3410	534	37	14.4	21.3%	367 (68.7%)	28 (5.2%)	35 (6.6%)	75 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (5.1%)	72.6	68^th of 344 public middle schools	80.2%		72.9	72^nd of 337 public middle schools	78.6%	4			91.4	86.8			82.0	79.6		78.5	$12,711	$282	$12,430
Hazel Point Intermediate School	Public	5-6	453 Echo Hill Road	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 200-1600	563	40	14.1	20.4%	393 (69.8%)	28 (5.0%)	31 (5.5%)	75 (13.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (5.7%)								(n/a)	85.0	87.8			86.6	85.5			79.8
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	300 20th ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52402	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2452	469	34	13.8	58.6%	271 (57.8%)	93 (19.8%)	39 (8.3%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	56 (11.9%)	17.3	301^st of 344 public middle schools	12.5%		18	298^th of 337 public middle schools	11.6%	3		65.7	66.2	75.0		55.5	52.5	64.1		50.6	$15,204	$665	$14,539
McKinley STEAM Academy	Public	6-8	620 10th ST SE	Cedar Rapids	52403	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2348	426	32	13.4	60.6%	216 (50.7%)	117 (27.5%)	34 (8.0%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (11.7%)	12.6	312^th of 344 public middle schools	9.3%		14.6	308^th of 337 public middle schools	8.6%	4		64.2	67.8	61.8		52.6	59.0	54.2		52.7	$16,456	$251	$16,204
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy	Public	6-8	300 13th ST NW	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2153	484	34	14.2	71.1%	166 (34.3%)	196 (40.5%)	50 (10.3%)	7 (1.4%)	3 (0.6%)	12 (2.5%)	50 (10.3%)	6.1	324^th of 344 public middle schools	5.8%		11.7	315^th of 337 public middle schools	6.5%	9		51.5	60.2	67.5		43.8	50.0	53.3		45.0	$15,027	$360	$14,667
Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	2301 J St SW	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-3387	422	31	13.6	78.0%	151 (35.8%)	135 (32.0%)	78 (18.5%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	42 (10.0%)	0.7	339^th of 344 public middle schools	1.5%		3.2	326^th of 337 public middle schools	3.3%	13		41.1	47.6	53.2		36.3	39.7	40.5		36.0	$17,810	$271	$17,539

Frequently Asked Questions about Vernon Middle School

What district is Vernon Middle School in?

Marion Independent School District

How many students attend Vernon Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 587 students attended Vernon Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Vernon Middle School?

Students at Vernon Middle School are 80% White, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 5% African American.

What high school do graduates of Vernon Middle School attend?

Students who attend Vernon Middle School usually go on to attend Marion High School

Is Vernon Middle School a good school?

Vernon Middle School ranks 170^th of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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Schools in Marion, IA

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.