An equity score of 37/100 ranks Marion County #118 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $13,327 per pupil, Marion County ranks #118 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
3,256
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$13,327
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Marion County operates 8 public schools serving 3,256 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Marion County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,327 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kentucky compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 29.4% local, 52.9% state, and 17.7% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 37/100, ranked #118 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 326.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 20.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.7% White, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lebanon Elementary School, with a diversity index of 59.7/100.
Its largest campus is Marion County High School, enrolling 879 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Hugh C. Spalding Academy, at 164 students, a 5x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
Marion County High School accounts for 27.0% of all Marion County student enrollment
That concentration means Marion County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.
Marion County school enrollment varies 5.4× across entities
Marion County school enrollment ranges from 164 students (lowest) to 879 students (highest), a spread of 715 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Marion County reports 56.8% free-lunch eligibility
The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.
Marion County student-counselor ratio is 327:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Marion County is typically wider than the Marion County-aggregate figure suggests.
Marion County chronic absenteeism rate is 20.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Marion County is typically wider than the Marion County-aggregate figure suggests.
Marion County has 8 schools, including 1 high, 6 combined, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 3,256 students.
How much does Marion County spend per student?
Marion County spends $13,327 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #118 in Kentucky.
What is the demographic composition of Marion County?
Marion County students are 77.7% White, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Marion County?
Marion County has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #118 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.