Summary:
Zip code 29571 is home to just one high school, Marion High, which serves grades 9-12 with 572 students in the Marion, SC area.
For parents considering this area, Marion High presents a mixed picture. The school has shown dramatic swings in its state ranking, jumping from the 2nd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 40th percentile in 2024-2025, before settling at the 21st percentile in 2025-2026. This volatility extends to test scores—Algebra 1 proficiency improved from 37.5% to 65% in one year, while English 2 dropped from an impressive 92.42% to 62.96%. The school is part of the Marion 10 district, which ranks 74th out of 75 districts in South Carolina, indicating systemic challenges beyond just this one campus.
One of the most concerning metrics is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 37.6%—68% higher than the state average of 22.3%. This likely contributes to inconsistent academic performance. However, there are bright spots: in 2024-2025, the school's English 2 proficiency rate of 92.42% actually exceeded both the district and state averages, and in 2025-2026, Algebra 1 proficiency matched the state average at 65%. The graduation rate of 86.0% is essentially on par with the state's 86.7%, suggesting the school successfully keeps students on track despite academic struggles. Per-student spending is notably high at $18,499, yet this investment hasn't produced consistently strong results. The school's dropout rate of 2.6% is slightly above the state's 2.1%. Overall, Marion High shows pockets of excellence and potential, but families should be aware of the attendance challenges and inconsistent test performance that characterize the school's recent history.
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