Summary:
Marion County School District includes 6 schools—2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools—serving 1,794 students in Foxworth and Columbia, Mississippi, and ranks 61st out of 134 Mississippi districts with a 3-star rating. The district serves an almost entirely economically disadvantaged population, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 97.9% to 99.3% across all schools.
West Marion Primary School is the standout elementary school, ranked 99th of 377 Mississippi elementary schools with a 4-star rating, and it posts 3rd grade ELA and math proficiency rates near 70%—well above state averages. West Marion High School is the most improved high school, jumping from 111th to 67th statewide and earning 4 stars, with Biology proficiency at 84.9%. East Marion Middle School is the district's most at-risk school, ranked 207th of 260 middle schools with a 1-star rating and 8th grade math proficiency of just 29.6%. East Marion High School leads the district in graduation rate at 87.8%, though West Marion High has stronger test scores overall.
There is a clear West Marion vs. East Marion divide, with West side schools outperforming East side schools at every level. Middle school math is a district-wide weakness, with most grade-level scores trailing the state by double digits, though West Marion Middle School's 8th grade math score of 70.4% is a notable exception. Science is a bright spot, with West Marion High's Biology score of 84.9% far exceeding the state average of 63.1%. Chronic absenteeism is highest at the high schools (over 30%), while elementary schools are near or below the state average. High poverty does not prevent high performance—both West Marion Primary and West Marion High earn 4-star ratings despite nearly universal free/reduced lunch eligibility. East Marion Elementary School has also shown strong year-over-year gains, including a 24-point jump in 5th grade science proficiency.
Thank you for your feedback!