Can I use Marion County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Marion County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Marion County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Marion County?

Start with the 16 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Marion County Schools & Education

Name: Marion County, Iowa Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Marion County, Iowa

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

69/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

94.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

94.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 92.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,589

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,591

School Score

69/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#24

of 99 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Marion County

Measured School Summary

Marion County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 94.7%.

Funding Context

At $7,589 per pupil, Marion County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 14% above the Iowa average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Marion County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

16 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

69/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #24 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.

Completion

94.7%

2.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,589

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Marion County has 16 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Marion County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Marion County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#24

of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Pella Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,491 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Knoxville Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,674 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Pleasantville Comm School District

Elementary to high school visible

779 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Twin Cedars Comm School District

Elementary and high visible

358 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Pella Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Marion County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Marion County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Marion County, Iowa

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Pella and Knoxville Districts Lead

Pella Community School District is the largest in the county, with 2,491 students enrolled across 5 schools. Knoxville Community District also maintains a strong presence with 1,674 students. Traditional public schools account for all enrollment, as there are no charter schools in the region.

A Mix of Town and Country Life

Educational locales are split between 9 town-based schools and 7 rural ones, offering families several lifestyle options. Pella High School is the county's largest with 764 students, while the average school size is 352. This blend provides both the resources of larger town schools and the intimacy of rural campuses.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Marion County

Reported Enrollment

5,632

16 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7

Middle4

High5

Other0

5 School Districts in Marion County

Pella Comm School District

5 schools

2,491 students

Knoxville Comm School District

4 schools

1,674 students

Pleasantville Comm School District

3 schools

779 students

Twin Cedars Comm School District

2 schools

358 students

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District

2 schools

330 students

16 Public Schools in Marion County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 16 of 16 matching schools

Public schools in Marion County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Pella High School	Record	Pella Comm School District	Pella, 50219Town: Distant	9–12	High	764
Jefferson Intermediate	Record	Pella Comm School District	Pella, 50219Town: Distant	4–6	Middle	526
Knoxville High School	Record	Knoxville Comm School District	Knoxville, 50138Town: Distant	9–12	High	500
Madison Elementary School	Record	Pella Comm School District	Pella, 50219Town: Distant	PK–3	Primary	490
West Elementary	Record	Knoxville Comm School District	Knoxville, 50138Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	465
Pleasantville Elementary	Record	Pleasantville Comm School District	Pleasantville, 50225Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	421
Pella Middle School	Record	Pella Comm School District	Pella, 50219Town: Distant	7–8	Middle	382
Knoxville Middle School	Record	Knoxville Comm School District	Knoxville, 50138Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	368
Northstar Elementary School	Record	Knoxville Comm School District	Knoxville, 50138Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	341
Lincoln Elementary School	Record	Pella Comm School District	Pella, 50219Town: Distant	PK–3	Primary	329
Pleasantville High School	Record	Pleasantville Comm School District	Pleasantville, 50225Rural: Distant	9–12	High	244
Twin Cedars Elementary School	Record	Twin Cedars Comm School District	Bussey, 50044Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	202
Melcher-Dallas Elem	Record	Melcher-Dallas Comm School District	Dallas, 50062Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	177
Twin Cedars Jr-Sr High School	Record	Twin Cedars Comm School District	Bussey, 50044Rural: Distant	7–12	High	156
Melcher-Dallas High School	Record	Melcher-Dallas Comm School District	Melcher, 50163Rural: Distant	7–12	High	153
Pleasantville Middle School	Record	Pleasantville Comm School District	Pleasantville, 50225Rural: Distant	7–8	Middle	114

Pella High School

Pella Comm School District

Pella, 50219 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High764 students

Jefferson Intermediate

Pella Comm School District

Pella, 50219 / Town: Distant

Record4–6Middle526 students

Knoxville High School

Knoxville Comm School District

Knoxville, 50138 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High500 students

Madison Elementary School

Pella Comm School District

Pella, 50219 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary490 students

West Elementary

Knoxville Comm School District

Knoxville, 50138 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary465 students

Pleasantville Elementary

Pleasantville Comm School District

Pleasantville, 50225 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary421 students

Pella Middle School

Pella Comm School District

Pella, 50219 / Town: Distant

Record7–8Middle382 students

Knoxville Middle School

Knoxville Comm School District

Knoxville, 50138 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle368 students

Northstar Elementary School

Knoxville Comm School District

Knoxville, 50138 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary341 students

Lincoln Elementary School

Pella Comm School District

Pella, 50219 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary329 students

Pleasantville High School

Pleasantville Comm School District

Pleasantville, 50225 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High244 students

Twin Cedars Elementary School

Twin Cedars Comm School District

Bussey, 50044 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary202 students

Melcher-Dallas Elem

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District

Dallas, 50062 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary177 students

Twin Cedars Jr-Sr High School

Twin Cedars Comm School District

Bussey, 50044 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High156 students

Melcher-Dallas High School

Melcher-Dallas Comm School District

Melcher, 50163 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High153 students

Pleasantville Middle School

Pleasantville Comm School District

Pleasantville, 50225 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle114 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,589

State avg $7,591

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Marion County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Iowa counties have the highest graduation rates?

Dallas County (97.3%), Clay County (97.0%), and Davis County (97.0%) currently lead Iowa among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Iowa?

Across Iowa counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,591. The highest current county values are Kossuth County ($8,712), Cerro Gordo County ($8,682), and Franklin County ($8,627). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Marion County?

Marion County has a school score of 69/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Marion County?

The high school graduation rate in Marion County is 94.7%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Marion County spend per student?

Marion County spends $7,589 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Marion County, Iowa — FAQ

What are the major school districts in Marion County, Iowa?

What is the school experience like in Marion County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Jackson County

Iowa

-0 pts

69/100

School score

Story County

Iowa

+0 pts

70/100

School score

Fremont County

Iowa

-1 pts

69/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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