Summary:
The Marion 10 school district in South Carolina serves about 3,633 students across 9 schools—5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools—and currently ranks 74th out of 75 districts in the state, though the data reveals a mix of serious challenges and notable bright spots.
For parents, the standout schools are Mullins High and Creek Bridge STEM Academy. Mullins High leads the district in math (74% Algebra 1 proficiency) and has the highest graduation rate (88.4%), plus it made a remarkable jump from the 6th to 51st percentile in state rankings. Creek Bridge STEM Academy, despite a low overall ranking, posts the district’s best 3rd-grade math (42.9%) and 8th-grade ELA (44.7%) scores, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (20.1%)—the only school below the state average. Marion High also improved dramatically, rising from the 2nd to 21st percentile, with a standout 92.4% proficiency in English 2. In contrast, Johnakin Middle shows a critical math crisis—0% proficiency in 7th-grade math and 3.6% in 8th-grade—while Palmetto Middle and McCormick Elementary also struggle with math scores below 10% in several grades.
Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, averaging 31.1% versus the state’s 22.3%, with Mullins High the worst at 42.4%. Spending varies widely—from $14,542 per student at Marion Intermediate to $19,656 at North Mullins Primary—but higher spending doesn’t consistently translate to better outcomes. The most urgent takeaway is the middle school math collapse, which demands immediate intervention, while the district’s high school graduation rates (87.1%) actually meet the state average, offering a glimmer of hope for families.
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