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Marion Elementary School

Q: Is Marion Elementary School a good school?

Marion Elementary School ranks 528 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

528^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 65% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Marion Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 356 students in grades PK-5 in Marion, North Carolina. The school is part of the McDowell County Schools district, which is ranked 98 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Marion Elementary School consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency, particularly in Mathematics. In the 2024-2025 school year, 88% of 3rd graders at Marion Elementary were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 61.9% for the district and 64.1% for the state. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.8 to 15 students per teacher, and spends $9,997 per student, which is higher than the state average.

However, Marion Elementary School faces socioeconomic challenges, with 60% to 99.16% of its students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in recent years. While the school's performance is strong overall, its statewide ranking and star rating have fluctuated over the years, indicating some inconsistency. Nearby schools, such as Old Fort Elementary and Eastfield Global Magnet School, also demonstrate strong academic performance, particularly in Mathematics and Science, and face similar socioeconomic challenges.

333

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,997

Per pupil spending ?

99.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

209 Robert Street
Marion, NC 28752

(828) 652-2141

District: McDowell County Schools

Students who attend Marion Elementary School usually attend:

High:	McDowell Early College
	McDowell High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.7%

Hispanic:

20.4%

Two or more races:

8.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Marion Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 44th percentile in 2015 → 65th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (63% vs 57% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 percentile points since 2015

✓Among the top-ranked schools in McDowell County Schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 14 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg57%

528^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 44% (2015) to top 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 8Elementary Schools in the McDowell County Schools

98^th of 242McDowell County Schools among North Carolina 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	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	62.2	528 of 1490	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.5	393 of 1505	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	70.1	406 of 1502	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	65.8	484 of 1514	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	519 of 1489	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.9	555 of 1473	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.6	617 of 1434	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.1	698 of 1429	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.4	584 of 1425	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.8	801 of 1440	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	62.2	506 of 1390	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	75.9	285 of 1403	79.7%	★★★★☆
2012	77.7	249 of 1388	82.1%	★★★★☆
2011	75.9	272 of 1381	80.3%	★★★★☆
2010	68.5	422 of 1363	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.9	401 of 1354	70.4%	★★★★☆
2008	64.6	456 of 1324	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.9	489 of 1293	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	52.3	679 of 1276	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	71.9	138 of 878	84.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	58.6	143 of 497	71.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	68.3	390 of 1451	73.1%	★★★★☆
2024	70.0	366 of 1455	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	338 of 1459	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	69.1	391 of 1458	73.2%	★★★★☆
2021	62.2	480 of 1440	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.6	688 of 1424	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.9	784 of 1405	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	69.4	126 of 669	81.2%	★★★★☆
2021	66.4	166 of 494	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	395 of 961	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.4	223 of 951	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	50.2	438 of 915	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.0	201 of 893	77.5%	★★★★☆
2021	68.4	177 of 843	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	62.2	281 of 865	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.6	302 of 851	64.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	71.2	288 of 1437	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.2	182 of 1450	87.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	179 of 1437	87.5%	★★★★☆
2022	76.8	184 of 1366	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.0	152 of 1329	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	70.0	312 of 1361	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	61.7	461 of 1332	65.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	617 of 1450	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.5	439 of 1464	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	66.7	433 of 1461	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	61.1	544 of 1464	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.9	514 of 1444	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.5	434 of 1430	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	395 of 1413	72.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	17.7	153 of 175	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.1	410 of 821	50.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	58.0	477 of 1172	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.6	401 of 1166	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	439 of 1183	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.0	649 of 1194	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.2	707 of 1172	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.2	705 of 1183	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	763 of 1178	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2025)96th percentile+31 vs school

Disabled (2019)84th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)80th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2025)73rd percentile+9 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)71st percentile+9 vs school

White (2025)59th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)59th percentile-6 vs school

Male (2025)57th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2025)50th percentile-15 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)13th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics73%+12 vs state

Reading59%+6 vs state

Science48%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Marion Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG 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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Marion Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	209 Robert Street	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 652-2141	333	23	14.6	99.1%	222 (66.7%)	14 (4.2%)	68 (20.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (8.1%)	62.2	528^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.6%		70.5	393^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	73.9%	135	88.0	78.5	55.4	56.0	78.5	41.5	47.7	$9,997	$1,489	$8,507
Eastfield Global Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	170 Eastfield School Road	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(828) 652-3730	279	21	13.2	97.8%	161 (57.7%)	6 (2.2%)	99 (35.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.7%)	56.1	632^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	57.6%		58.6	606^th of 1505 public elementary schools	59.7%	26	66.7	54.3	69.2	44.4	52.2	59.0	66.7	$11,548	$1,932	$9,616
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 John Roach Drive	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 724-4422	289	21	13.4	99.0%	214 (74.0%)	3 (1.0%)	48 (16.6%)	5 (1.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.9%)	48.2	777^th of 1490 public elementary schools	47.9%		57.2	632^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	58.0%	145	55.3	44.7	53.2	44.7	44.7	66.0	70.2	$10,413	$1,532	$8,881
Nebo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	254 Nebo School Road	Nebo	28761	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 652-4737	354	22	15.8	99.2%	272 (76.8%)	8 (2.3%)	51 (14.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.9%)	47.6	788^th of 1490 public elementary schools	47.1%		35.4	1008^th of 1505 public elementary schools	33.0%	220	46.2	64.9	55.9	42.3	66.7	44.1	59.3	$10,949	$1,855	$9,095
Glenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1545 Old Hwy 221 South	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 738-4220	435	27	15.9	99.3%	364 (83.7%)	5 (1.1%)	28 (6.4%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.9%)	34.9	1004^th of 1490 public elementary schools	32.6%		36.7	982^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	34.8%	22	47.0	50.9	56.7	40.9	54.4	50.0	36.7	$10,691	$1,210	$9,481
West Marion Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Marler Road	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 738-3353	390	28	14.1	99.2%	298 (76.4%)	12 (3.1%)	50 (12.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.9%)	42.3	874^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.3%		48.1	781^st of 1505 public elementary schools	48.1%	93	76.1	56.0	29.0	56.5	54.0	33.9	59.0	$11,463	$1,657	$9,807
North Cove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	401 American Thread Road	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 756-4342	230	16	14.4	98.7%	174 (75.7%)	2 (0.9%)	37 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.4%)	25.3	1176^th of 1490 public elementary schools	21.1%		33.6	1036^th of 1505 public elementary schools	31.2%	140	50.0	26.1	42.4	41.3	52.2	33.3	48.5	$11,425	$1,369	$10,056
Old Fort Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	128 Mauney Avenue	Old Fort	28762	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 668-7646	360	24	15.3	95.0%	302 (83.9%)	9 (2.5%)	23 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.9%)	68.4	417^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.0%		69.1	426^th of 1505 public elementary schools	71.7%	9	72.5	69.6	65.9	47.5	65.2	59.1	68.2	$11,403	$1,803	$9,600
Glen Alpine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	302 London Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 584-0661	295	22	13.2	99.0%	180 (61.0%)	14 (4.7%)	49 (16.6%)	20 (6.8%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.2%)	60.4	557^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.6%		52.6	706^th of 1505 public elementary schools	53.1%	149	72.5	57.8	75.5	43.1	51.1	52.8	71.7	$10,621	$1,368	$9,253
Greenlee Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	2206 Carters Ridge Road	Spruce Pine	28777	Mitchell County	Mitchell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 766-9562	246	19	12.7	95.5%	194 (78.9%)	3 (1.2%)	38 (15.4%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.8%)								(n/a)								$12,363	$1,195	$11,168

Frequently Asked Questions about Marion Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Marion Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Marion Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : McDowell Early College
High : McDowell High School

What is the racial makeup of Marion Elementary School?

Students at Marion Elementary School are 67% White, 20% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 4% African American.

What district is Marion Elementary School in?

McDowell County Schools

Is Marion Elementary School a good school?

Marion Elementary School ranks 528^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Marion Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 333 students attended Marion Elementary School.

Rate Marion Elementary School!

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NCNorth Carolina Elementary School Rankings

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Schools in Marion, NC

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

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.