Marion County Schools & Education
Marion County, Oregon
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
80.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
80.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,127
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,886
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 41/100
State Score Position
#19
of 36 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Marion County
Measured School Summary
Marion County faces educational challenges with a school score of 39/100 and a graduation rate of 80.6%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
Marion County spends $8,127 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% below the Oregon average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% 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
110 public schools and 11 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
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #19 of 36 Oregon counties with school score data.
Completion
80.6%
1.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,127
$241 above the state average
School coverage
110
11 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 110 public schools across 11 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.
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.
Large multi-district county
Marion County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#19
of 36 Oregon counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below 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.
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Elementary to high school visible
34,350 students
57 listed schools in this county slice.
Woodburn SD 103
Elementary to high school visible
5,222 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Cascade SD 5
Elementary to high school visible
2,685 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
North Marion SD 15
Elementary to high school visible
1,674 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Salem-Keizer SD 24J is the largest listed district slice, with 65 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?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
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, Oregon
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.
The Educational Core of Marion County
Marion County hosts a massive education infrastructure of 110 schools serving 54,559 students. This includes 66 elementary schools and 20 high schools across 11 districts.
Assessing Outcomes in the State Capital
The county's 80.6% graduation rate is slightly below the state average of 82.3%. Investment per pupil is $8,127, which is higher than the state average of $7,886 but remains below the national average.
Salem-Keizer and Specialized Charters
Salem-Keizer SD 24J is one of the state's largest districts, managing 65 schools and 39,201 students. The county also offers 10 charter schools, including the large-scale Oregon Charter Academy.
Large Campuses in Urban and Suburbia
The county features 40 city schools and 20 suburban schools, with an average school size of 501 students. Major campuses like McKay High School and South Salem High School each serve over 2,200 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
110
in Marion County
Reported Enrollment
54,559
110 schools reporting
School Districts
11
districts
Charter Schools
10
9% of total
School Level Breakdown
11 School Districts in Marion County
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
GuideWoodburn SD 103
GuideCascade SD 5
North Marion SD 15
Gervais SD 1
Oregon Department of Education
Jefferson SD 14J
Mt Angel SD 91
St Paul SD 45
ODE YCEP District
110 Public Schools in Marion County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 11 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 110 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKay High School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97305City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,311 |
| South Salem High School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97302City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,256 |
| North Salem High School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97301City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,239 |
| McNary High School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Keizer, 97303Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,081 |
| Oregon Charter Academy | Profile | Santiam Canyon SD 129J | Mill City, 97360Rural: Distant | KG–12 | CharterVirtual | 2,057 |
| Sprague High School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97302City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,779 |
| Woodburn High School | Profile | Woodburn SD 103 | Woodburn, 97071Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,716 |
| Silverton High School | Profile | Silver Falls SD 4J | Silverton, 97381Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,238 |
| Waldo Middle School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97301City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 1,166 |
| Stephens Middle School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97305City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 1,024 |
| Houck Middle School | Profile | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97301City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 949 |
| Claggett Creek Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Keizer, 97303Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 829 |
| Judson Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97302City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 810 |
| Crossler Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97306City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 798 |
| Cascade Senior High School | Record | Cascade SD 5 | Turner, 97392Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 764 |
| Leslie Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97302City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 743 |
| Stayton High School | Record | North Santiam SD 29J | Stayton, 97383Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 697 |
| Whiteaker Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Keizer, 97303Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 682 |
| Parrish Middle School | Record | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Salem, 97301City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 670 |
| Cascade Junior High School | Record | Cascade SD 5 | Turner, 97392Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 632 |
McKay High School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97305 / City: Midsize
South Salem High School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97302 / City: Midsize
North Salem High School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97301 / City: Midsize
McNary High School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Keizer, 97303 / Suburb: Midsize
Oregon Charter Academy
Santiam Canyon SD 129J
Mill City, 97360 / Rural: Distant
Sprague High School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97302 / City: Midsize
Woodburn High School
Woodburn SD 103
Woodburn, 97071 / Town: Fringe
Silverton High School
Silver Falls SD 4J
Silverton, 97381 / Town: Fringe
Waldo Middle School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97301 / City: Midsize
Stephens Middle School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97305 / City: Midsize
Houck Middle School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Salem, 97301 / City: Midsize
Claggett Creek Middle School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Keizer, 97303 / Suburb: Midsize
Whiteaker Middle School
Salem-Keizer SD 24J
Keizer, 97303 / Suburb: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,127
State avg $7,886
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Marion County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Oregon counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Oregon?
How should I read the school score in Marion County?
What is the graduation rate in Marion County?
How much does Marion County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Marion County, Oregon — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Marion County, Oregon?
Marion County hosts a massive education infrastructure of 110 schools serving 54,559 students. This includes 66 elementary schools and 20 high schools across 11 districts.
How do schools in Marion County perform academically?
The county's 80.6% graduation rate is slightly below the state average of 82.3%. Investment per pupil is $8,127, which is higher than the state average of $7,886 but remains below the national average.
What are the major school districts in Marion County, Oregon?
Salem-Keizer SD 24J is one of the state's largest districts, managing 65 schools and 39,201 students. The county also offers 10 charter schools, including the large-scale Oregon Charter Academy.
What is the school experience like in Marion County?
The county features 40 city schools and 20 suburban schools, with an average school size of 501 students. Major campuses like McKay High School and South Salem High School each serve over 2,200 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.