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Marion Middle School - 03

Q: Is Marion Middle School - 03 a good school?

Marion Middle School - 03 ranks 91 st of 151 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

91^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 151 South Dakota Middle Schools

Better than 40% of South Dakota middle schools

Summary

Marion Middle School - 03 is a small school in Marion, South Dakota, serving grades 6–8 with 46 students. Its latest results show math above state and district levels, but weaker ELA and especially low eighth-grade science; science is the clearest academic concern, at 21% proficient compared with 41% statewide and 21% in the Marion School District 60-3.

Math is the school’s strongest subject relative to the state and district: 53% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, 9 percentage points above the state and 2 points above the district. Among the two nearby schools serving grades 6–8, Marion was also above their 49% average, though below Montrose Middle School - 03 and above Canistota Middle School - 03. ELA is a weaker comparison: Marion’s 44% was 5 points below the state and 13 points below the nearby-school average, although it was 5 points above its district. Eighth-grade science was the lowest among Marion and six nearby schools reporting that grade, whose average was 45%.

Results have shifted over the past four years: ELA rose 7 percentage points overall, to 44%, while math fell 2 points overall to 53% after a mid-period dip. Eighth-grade science dropped 36 points, from 57% to 21%, despite a temporary rise to 68%. For context, SchoolDigger placed Marion at the 40th percentile with 2 stars in 2025–2026; its student-teacher ratio was 11.7 in 2024–2025, the lowest among nearby schools, and 52% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year, compared with a nearby average of 26%. SchoolDigger’s 2024–2025 rankings also differed sharply by group: Hispanic students ranked at the 95th percentile, compared with the school’s overall 65th percentile, while English Language Learner students ranked at the 21st percentile. Seventh-grade results are suppressed, and nearby schools serve different grade spans, so some comparisons are not like-for-like.

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,851

Per pupil spending ?

52.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

100 S Cedar St
Marion, SD 57043

(605) 648-3615

District: Marion School District 60-3

Students who attend Marion Middle School - 03 usually attend:

High:

Marion High School - 01

Feeder schools for Marion Middle School - 03:

Elementary:

Marion Elementary - 02

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.6%

Hispanic:

10.9%

Two or more races:

6.5%

See top rated South Dakota middle schools

Compare Marion Middle School - 03 to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 65th percentile in 2025 → 40th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 65th-percentile peak (2025) to 40th (2026)

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

!Science scores 19 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg43%

South Dakota avg46%

91^st of 151

South Dakota public middle schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 29 pts since 2016

From bottom 11% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

91^st of 126Marion School District 60-3 among South Dakota 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	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	43.9	91 of 151	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.6	85 of 246	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.0	109 of 147	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	57.1	60 of 150	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.6	76 of 143	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.3	61 of 145	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.5	111 of 149	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	51.5	82 of 146	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	22.6	131 of 147	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	24.5	125 of 145	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	47.3	94 of 145	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.0	106 of 146	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	42.4	102 of 140	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	54.2	80 of 139	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.2	97 of 139	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	37.1	113 of 136	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	49.0	97 of 136	28.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.1	78 of 141	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	56.9	68 of 136	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	42.2	106 of 134	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	20.2	118 of 133	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	31.0	93 of 117	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	65.9	57 of 229	75.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	80.8	6 of 117	94.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	71.8	21 of 187	88.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	57.9	93 of 233	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.6	87 of 115	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	49.1	56 of 115	51.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	64.2	24 of 181	86.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	102 of 133	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	55.9	104 of 230	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	22.1	114 of 132	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.4	59 of 136	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.4	90 of 132	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.6	79 of 136	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.4	106 of 136	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)95th percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile+23 vs school

Special Education (2025)87th percentile+21 vs school

Female (2025)75th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)60th percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)51st percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)23rd percentile-16 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)21st percentile-45 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics53%+9 vs state

English Language Arts44%-5 vs state

Science21%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Marion Middle School - 03

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Marion Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	100 S Cedar St	Marion	57043	Turner County	Marion School District 60-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 648-3615	46	4	11.7	52.2%	38 (82.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.5%)	43.9	91^st of 151 public middle schools	39.7%		62.6	85^th of 246 public middle schools	65.4%	6		27.3		57.1	44.1		45.5		50.0	53.0		21.4		$14,851	$36	$14,815
Parker Junior High - 03	Public	7-8	335 W 1st St	Parker	57053	Turner County	Parker School District 60-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 297-3456	74	5	15.7	31.1%	65 (87.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)	54.8	72^nd of 151 public middle schools	52.3%		40.5	167^th of 246 public middle schools	32.1%	95			48.7	52.6	50.7			51.4	47.4	49.3		36.8		$10,419	$00	$10,419
Freeman Junior High - 05	Public	7-8	1001 S Wipf St	Freeman	57029	Hutchinson County	Freeman School District 33-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 925-4214	49	3	15.1	38.8%	40 (81.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	64.7	52^nd of 151 public middle schools	65.6%		73.1	42^nd of 246 public middle schools	82.9%	10			60.0	52.0	55.6			65.0	52.0	57.8		36.0		$12,486	$00	$12,486
Canistota Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	431 4th Ave	Canistota	57012	McCook County	Canistota School District 43-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 296-3458	68	4	17.1	26.5%	60 (88.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.4%)	1 (1.5%)	4 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.2	95^th of 151 public middle schools	37.1%		47.3	142^nd of 246 public middle schools	42.3%	47		31.3	55.2	40.0	44.6		25.0	58.6	30.0	41.5		35.0		$12,552	$00	$12,552
Viborg-Hurley Middle School - 03	Public	5-8	501 Adams St	Hurley	57070	Turner County	Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 766-5418	114	9	12.0	34.2%	99 (86.8%)	1 (0.9%)	8 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.5%)	57.1	65^th of 151 public middle schools	57.0%		56.7	103^rd of 246 public middle schools	58.1%	38	63.2	53.6	50.0	45.0	52.6	57.9	60.7	50.0	35.0	51.6	47.4	40.0	43.6	$12,644	$00	$12,644
Lennox Intermediate - 09	Public	5-6	208 W 5th Ave	Lennox	57039	Lincoln County	Lennox School District 41-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 647-2203	185	12	15.4	16.2%	167 (90.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.9%)								(n/a)	60.8	61.9			61.4	51.4	63.9			58.5	54.1			$10,739	$263	$10,477
Lennox Junior High - 08	Public	7-8	1201 S Main St	Lennox	57039	Lincoln County	Lennox School District 41-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 647-2203	169	11	14.7	15.4%	152 (89.9%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.1%)	88.3	6^th of 151 public middle schools	96.0%		85.3	11^th of 246 public middle schools	95.5%	5			68.8	70.5	69.6			64.5	58.0	61.3		68.2		$11,014	$263	$10,751
Montrose Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	309 S Church Ave	Montrose	57048	McCook County	Montrose School District 43-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 363-5025	53	4	12.2	22.6%	49 (92.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.7	29^th of 151 public middle schools	80.8%		80.6	23^rd of 246 public middle schools	90.7%	6		57.9	56.3	76.9	62.5		36.8	56.3	84.6	56.3		53.8		$14,480	$132	$14,348

Frequently Asked Questions about Marion Middle School - 03

What is the racial makeup of Marion Middle School - 03?

Students at Marion Middle School - 03 are 83% White, 11% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

What district is Marion Middle School - 03 in?

Marion School District 60-3

How many students attend Marion Middle School - 03?

In the 2024-25 school year, 46 students attended Marion Middle School - 03.

What high school do graduates of Marion Middle School - 03 attend?

Students who attend Marion Middle School - 03 usually go on to attend Marion High School - 01

Is Marion Middle School - 03 a good school?

Marion Middle School - 03 ranks 91^st of 151 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Marion Middle School - 03!

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Latest South Dakota data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewNov 6, 2026

2025–26 SD ACT & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewNov 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation rates (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2025–26 immunization ratesOct 24, 2026

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