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Marion Carnegie Public Library - Marion IowaPhoto: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Marion · Linn-Mar Community School District, Marion Independent School District

Marion’s public schools outscore 68% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Marion, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. On the state math tests, 72% of Marion’s students scored proficient, above the Iowa average (64%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#50of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
74%
▲ 4 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
72%
▲ 9 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 4 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.1K
▼ 4% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024 · Linn-Mar
Students per teacher
14.6
IA 14.1
Schools in town
16
8,666 students on the public path
In brief

Marion’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 463 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Marion’s, its schools beat 61%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 74% and math 72% across both districts in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Linn-Mar spends $13,124 per student and Marion Independent $14,673, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Joseph Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Marion’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 68% of Iowa school districts, #50 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (463)Better than 61%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,602 test results and a graduating class of 564 could put Marion anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Marion’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,607 in math, 6,597 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Marion, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–47 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A+
7–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−

Marion runs its own schools through grade 12 (Linn-Mar Community School District). From grade PK, students attend the Marion Independent School District. Parts of Marion (4% of its land) are served by Cedar Rapids instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Marion

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Linn-Mar Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 7,361 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 14.8 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,124IA $13,713 · FY2024
B+
Marion Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,163 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 14.0 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$14,673IA $13,713 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Linn-Mar Community School District75%
State average 69.7% · 5139 students tested
Math · PK–12, Linn-Mar Community School District74%
State average 63.8% · 5147 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Marion Independent School District69%
State average 69.7% · 1458 students tested
Math · PK–12, Marion Independent School District67%
State average 63.8% · 1460 students tested

Marion vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Marion’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MarionB+Linn-Mar PK–12 · Marion Independent PK–12
Cedar RapidsDCedar Rapids PK–12 · College PK–12

Every school in Marion

16 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Marionby address
Echo Hill Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A
536 students17:1Rate it →
Linn Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
385 students14:1Rate it →
Wilkins Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
348 students13:1Rate it →
Parkview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
267 students13:1Rate it →
Longfellow Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
254 students14:1Rate it →
Indian Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4
A+
354 students14:1Rate it →
Novak Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4
C+
347 students12:1Rate it →
Francis Marion Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 3–4
B−
320 students13:1Rate it →
Boulder Peak Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–6
B+
613 students14:1Rate it →
Vernon Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
587 students13:1Rate it →
Hazel Point Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–6
A
563 students14:1Rate it →
Excelsior Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B
594 students13:1Rate it →
Oak Ridge Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
A
534 students14:1Rate it →
Linn-Mar High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
2,229 students17:1Rate it →
Marion High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
735 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Joseph Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
231 studentsRate it →

Questions about Marion’s schools

Are Marion’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Marion children attend outscore 68% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #50 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 61%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Marion in?

Two districts: Linn-Mar Community School District runs grades PK–12, and Marion Independent School District runs grades PK–12.

Where do Marion kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Linn-Mar High School and Marion High School.

What is Marion’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Linn-Mar Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Marion spend per student?

$13,124 in Linn-Mar Community School District and $14,673 in Marion Independent School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Marion?

Yes: St. Joseph Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 231 students).

Parents talk

What Marion families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Marion → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.