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Marion Elementary

Q: Is Marion Elementary a good school?

Marion Elementary ranks 360 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

360^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Marion Elementary is a PK–5 school in Marion, VA, serving 298 students as part of Smyth County Public Schools. During the 2025-2026 school year, it ranked 360th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (68th percentile, 3 stars) — a step back from its standout 2023-2024 year when it earned 5 stars and ranked 103rd statewide (91st percentile). That volatility is partly due to small grade-level cohorts, where one strong or weak class can shift results noticeably. Even so, the school has remained in the upper half of Virginia elementary schools for two straight years and has posted stronger results than nearby Oak Point Elementary and Atkins Elementary on most measures.

Academically, Marion is consistently above state averages in early grades. On 2025-2026 SOL tests, 3rd grade reading hit 82.35% (state: 67.61%), and 4th grade reading reached 84.48% (state: 73.70%). Math proficiency was strong across 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, all hovering around 81–84%. The clearest concern is the 5th grade dip: reading proficiency fell to 70.45% (district: 80.15%) and science to 70.45% (district: 78.28%). This marks two consecutive years of below-district 5th grade science, making upper-grade instruction the most urgent area for attention. For comparison, Saltville Elementary — the region's clear benchmark, ranking in the 97th percentile — posts near-perfect upper-grade results, while Marion's 3rd grade reading is essentially comparable.

Attendance is a major bright spot. Marion's chronic absenteeism dropped from 15.9% in 2021-2022 to just 8.8% in 2024-2025, far better than the district rate of 17.0% and the state rate of 14.8%. The school also serves its highest-need students exceptionally well: its economically disadvantaged subgroup ranked in the 81st–95th percentile statewide in recent years, a notable achievement given near-universal poverty. Per-pupil spending of $9,863 is lower than many neighboring schools (e.g., Sugar Grove Elementary at $15,481), and its 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio is leaner than most rural peers — yet outcomes remain solid. Overall, Marion is a dependable, mid-to-upper-tier school with clear strengths in early literacy and attendance, and its ranking decline is concentrated in 5th grade reading and science.

298

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,863

Per pupil spending ?

100.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

188 Star Mountain Dr
Marion, VA 24354

(276) 783-3021

District: Smyth County Public Schools

Students who attend Marion Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Marion Middle
High:	Marion Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.6%

African American:

5.7%

Hispanic:

3.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (79% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Above the Virginia median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg80%

Virginia avg72%

360^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Smyth County Public Schools

17^th of 131Smyth County Public Schools among Virginia 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	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	360 of 1111	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.7	407 of 1110	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	86.0	103 of 1114	90.8%	★★★★★
2023	81.0	190 of 1114	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	64.2	418 of 1109	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.0	796 of 1103	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.3	540 of 1105	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.1	378 of 1097	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	76.3	201 of 1099	81.7%	★★★★☆
2016	79.7	160 of 1096	85.4%	★★★★☆
2015	73.8	238 of 1100	78.4%	★★★★☆
2014	63.7	384 of 1110	65.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	54.1	546 of 1100	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.6	503 of 1096	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	81.3	166 of 1098	84.9%	★★★★☆
2023	75.7	243 of 1100	77.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	74.2	201 of 1046	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	87.6	48 of 1036	95.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	76.8	230 of 1099	79.1%	★★★★☆
2025	70.2	334 of 1093	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	87.5	65 of 1101	94.1%	★★★★★
2023	83.0	144 of 1093	86.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	46.2	591 of 974	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.6	605 of 973	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	72.7	226 of 979	76.9%	★★★★☆
2023	67.5	305 of 984	69.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)81st percentile+17 vs school

Male (2026)79th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)50th percentile-17 vs school

White (2026)39th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics82%+9 vs state

English Reading80%+8 vs state

VA Studies78%+7 vs state

Science70%~ state avg

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Schools Near Marion Elementary

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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)				SOL Mathematics (2026)					SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)					SOL Civics and Economics (2026)	SOL VA Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	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	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Marion Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	188 Star Mountain Dr	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-3021	298	22	13.7	100.3%	264 (88.6%)	17 (5.7%)	9 (3.0%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	69.2	360^th of 1111 public elementary schools	67.6%		65.7	407^th of 1110 public elementary schools	63.3%	47	84.3	81.0	81.8			70.5	82.4	84.5	70.5				77.6	$9,863	$1,490	$8,374
Smyth County Virtual	Public, Virtual	K-2	121 Bagley Circle	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(276) 783-3791	339	20	16.9		132 (38.9%)	102 (30.1%)	49 (14.5%)	9 (2.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (13.0%)								(n/a)
Atkins Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5903 Lee Hwy	Atkins	24311	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-3366	168	17	9.7	99.4%	156 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	52.9	581^st of 1111 public elementary schools	47.7%		58.7	496^th of 1110 public elementary schools	55.3%	85	80.0	65.4	66.7			70.8	64.0	73.1	83.3				76.0	$10,733	$1,670	$9,063
Oak Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	138 Oak Point Dr	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-2609	352	31	11.3	118.2%	331 (94.0%)	8 (2.3%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.4%)	60.6	467^th of 1111 public elementary schools	58.0%		27.2	860^th of 1110 public elementary schools	22.5%	393	81.6	71.7	76.5			76.5	81.6	69.6	80.4				68.9	$12,216	$1,764	$10,452
Sugar Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	242 Teas Rd	Sugar Grove	24375	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 677-3311	88	11	8.1	95.5%	85 (96.6%)	2 (2.3%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.1	319^th of 1111 public elementary schools	71.3%		64.5	429^th of 1110 public elementary schools	61.4%	110	87.5	76.9	84.6			76.9	87.5	84.6	84.6				61.5	$15,481	$3,472	$12,008
Chilhowie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	130 East Lee Hwy	Chilhowie	24319	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 646-8220	589	41	14.4	100.0%	536 (91.0%)	17 (2.9%)	26 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	72.4	314^th of 1111 public elementary schools	71.7%		79.8	218^th of 1110 public elementary schools	80.4%	96	81.1	85.0	84.5			79.6	67.8	83.8	80.6				84.6	$8,497	$1,350	$7,146
Rich Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	196 Long Hollow Rd	Saltville	24370	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 624-3314	126	11	11.3	101.6%	124 (98.4%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	79.1	213^th of 1111 public elementary schools	80.8%		83.5	154^th of 1110 public elementary schools	86.1%	59	65.0	88.2	100.0			91.7	85.0	94.1	83.3				93.8	$12,975	$2,582	$10,393
Rural Retreat Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Martha Debord Way	Rural Retreat	24368	Wythe County	Wythe County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 686-4125	350	26	13.3	80.9%	331 (94.6%)	2 (0.6%)	8 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.6%)	76.6	262^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	76.4%		84.6	134^th of 1110 public elementary schools	87.9%	128	98.0	86.4	77.0			71.6	92.2	90.9	81.1				84.1	$8,409	$1,618	$6,791
Grayson Highlands	Public	PK, KG-7	6459 Troutdale Hwy.	Troutdale	24378	Grayson County	Grayson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 579-2235	156	15	10.6	95.5%	141 (90.4%)	3 (1.9%)	6 (3.8%)	3 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	62.7	442^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	60.2%		71.8	327^th of 1110 public elementary schools	70.5%	115	79.2	80.0	81.3	71.4	88.9	75.0	75.0	80.0	62.5	78.6	94.4	77.8	80.0	$11,735	$1,203	$10,532
Saltville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1013 E Main St	Saltville	24370	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 496-4751	189	16	11.5	101.6%	173 (91.5%)	3 (1.6%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.2%)	90.6	37^th of 1111 public elementary schools	96.7%		89.8	53^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	95.2%	16	94.3	90.9	100.0			95.0	82.9	100.0	90.0				90.9	$12,996	$1,838	$11,157

Frequently Asked Questions about Marion Elementary

How many students attend Marion Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 298 students attended Marion Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Marion Elementary?

Students at Marion Elementary are 89% White, 6% African American, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Marion Elementary attend?

Students who attend Marion Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Marion Middle
High : Marion Senior High

Is Marion Elementary a good school?

Marion Elementary ranks 360^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Marion Elementary in?

Smyth County Public Schools

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

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