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 11 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Marion County Schools & Education

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

Marion County, Mississippi

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

School Score

30/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

89.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,964

National avg $13,239

State avg $5,954

School Score

30/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 27/100

State Score Position

#30

of 81 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Marion County

Measured School Summary

Marion County faces educational challenges with a school score of 30/100 and a graduation rate of 89.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,964 per pupil, Marion County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 11% above the Mississippi average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher 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

11 public schools and 2 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

30/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #30 of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data.

Completion

89.4%

2.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,964

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Marion County has 11 public schools across 2 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.

Dominant-district county

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST carries most of the listed public-school system, with 7 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#30

of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Elementary to high school visible

1,904 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 3Other 1

7 listed schools in this county slice.

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,646 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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, Mississippi

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.

Public Education Landscape in Marion County

Marion County operates 11 public schools, providing education to a total of 3,550 students. The infrastructure is split between four elementary schools, two middle schools, and four high schools. Two distinct school districts manage these campuses, ensuring coverage across both town and rural regions.

Spotlighting Marion and Columbia Districts

The Marion County School District is the larger of the two, with 1,904 students enrolled across seven schools. The Columbia School District serves the remaining 1,646 students through four specialized campuses. The county focuses on traditional public education, with no charter schools currently in operation.

Rural Roots and Community Schooling

Six schools are located in rural settings, while five serve the town areas, creating a diverse geographic mix. Average school size is 394 students, providing a personalized feel compared to larger neighboring counties. West Marion High School is the largest campus with 569 students, while Jefferson Middle is the smallest at 373.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Marion County

Reported Enrollment

3,550

11 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary4

Middle2

High4

Other1

2 School Districts in Marion County

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

7 schools

1,904 students

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools

1,646 students

11 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

Sort

Showing 11 of 11 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
WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	Foxworth, 39483Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	569
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT	Columbia, 39429Town: Distant	9–12	High	469
COLUMBIA PRIMARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT	Columbia, 39429Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	466
EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	Columbia, 39429Rural: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	394
JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT	Columbia, 39429Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	373
WEST MARION PRIMARY SCHOOL	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	Foxworth, 39483Town: Distant	PK–3	Primary	352
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT	Columbia, 39429Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	338
EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	Columbia, 39429Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	330
WEST MARION ELEMENTARY	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	Foxworth, 39483Rural: Fringe	4–6	Middle	259
MARION CO ALT SCHOOL	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBIA, 39429Rural: Fringe	UG	Alternative	0
MARION CO VOC COMPLEX	Record	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBIA, 39429Rural: Fringe	9–12	Vocational	0

WEST MARION HIGH SCHOOL

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Foxworth, 39483 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High569 students

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Columbia, 39429 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High469 students

COLUMBIA PRIMARY SCHOOL

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Columbia, 39429 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary466 students

EAST MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Columbia, 39429 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary394 students

JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Columbia, 39429 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle373 students

WEST MARION PRIMARY SCHOOL

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Foxworth, 39483 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary352 students

COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Columbia, 39429 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary338 students

EAST MARION HIGH SCHOOL

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Columbia, 39429 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High330 students

WEST MARION ELEMENTARY

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

Foxworth, 39483 / Rural: Fringe

Record4–6Middle259 students

MARION CO ALT SCHOOL

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBIA, 39429 / Rural: Fringe

RecordUGAlternative0 students

MARION CO VOC COMPLEX

MARION CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBIA, 39429 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,964

State avg $5,954

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 Mississippi counties have the highest graduation rates?

Holmes County (97.0%), Montgomery County (97.0%), and Quitman County (97.0%) currently lead Mississippi 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 Mississippi?

Across Mississippi counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $5,954. The highest current county values are Choctaw County ($8,216), Kemper County ($7,706), and Franklin County ($7,289). 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 30/100, which is a lower 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 89.4%, 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 $5,964 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, Mississippi — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Marion County, Mississippi?

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

What is the school experience like in Marion County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Tishomingo County

Mississippi

-0 pts

30/100

School score

Monroe County

Mississippi

+1 pts

31/100

School score

Harrison County

Mississippi

+1 pts

31/100

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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