Marion School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Marion, Arkansas - 5 schools

An equity score of 32/100 ranks Marion School District #199 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,956 per pupil, Marion School District ranks #151 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,902
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$11,956
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Marion School District operates 5 public schools serving 3,902 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 2 elementary, 1 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Crittenden County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,956 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.0% local, 46.1% state, and 14.9% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 32/100, ranked #199 of 250 in Arkansas 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 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 518.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 44.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.5% African American, 27.4% White, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Herbert Carter Global Community Magnet School, with a diversity index of 65.3/100.

Its largest campus is Marion High School, enrolling 927 students (26% of the district's total enrollment).

Marion High School accounts for 23.8% of all Marion School District student enrollment

That concentration means Marion School District-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.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Marion School District reports 60.4% 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.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Marion School District student-counselor ratio is 518:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Marion School District chronic absenteeism rate is 44.8% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.9%
Federal
46.1%
State
39.0%
Local

Funding Equity

32
Equity Score
199 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Marion School District.

White 27.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
African American 58.5%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 5.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Marion School District's schools, above the Arkansas average of 40.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Herbert Carter Global Community Magnet School 65.3
  2. 2 Marion Math Science & Technology Magnet School 59.8
  3. 3 Marion High School 56.3
  4. 4 Marion Junior High School 54.7
  5. 5 Marion Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School 42.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
518.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
44.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Marion School District

School Enrollment
Marion High School
927
Marion Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School
762
Herbert Carter Global Community Magnet School
670
Marion Math Science & Technology Magnet School
654
Marion Junior High School
588

How Marion School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mountain Home School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Texarkana School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Greenbrier School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Greenwood School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Searcy School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Marion School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Arkansas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Springdale School District
22,745 students · 29 schools · $12,146/pupil
Compare vs Marion School District →
Little Rock School District
21,456 students · 40 schools · $15,959/pupil
Compare vs Marion School District →
Bentonville School District
18,674 students · 24 schools · $12,377/pupil
Compare vs Marion School District →
Rogers School District
15,964 students · 23 schools · $11,519/pupil
Compare vs Marion School District →
Fort Smith School District
14,291 students · 27 schools · $12,459/pupil
Compare vs Marion School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Marion School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Springdale School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Marion School District?

Marion School District has 5 schools, including 1 high, 2 combined, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 3,902 students.

How much does Marion School District spend per student?

Marion School District spends $11,956 per student. The district has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #199 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of Marion School District?

Marion School District students are 58.5% African American, 27.4% White, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Marion School District?

Marion School District has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #199 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.