Marion County, AL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Marion County

Marion County, Alabama, sits in the northwestern part of the state, a mostly rural area served by a single school district that bears the county's name. The district operates a network of schools spread across the small towns that dot the landscape, including Hamilton, Hackleburg, Guin, Brilliant, Phillips, and other communities. With an enrollment that places it among mid-sized rural Alabama districts, Marion County Schools serves students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade in a setting where the schools are deeply tied to the towns they call home.

The student body is predominantly white, with the next largest groups being Hispanic and then Black, a composition that roughly mirrors the county's overall population. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not reported, and information on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent, so a full picture of economic and learning support needs is incomplete. A parent interested in those dimensions would want to ask the district directly.

On state assessments administered across grades three through eight, the district's results show a clear pattern by subject. In English language arts, proficiency rates are strongest in the early elementary grades and remain solid through upper elementary and middle school, with the highest rates in third grade and a gradual but moderate decline as students move through the later grades. In contrast, math proficiency tells a different story: early elementary grades start at a decent level, but the rates drop noticeably in middle school, with seventh and eighth grade showing the lowest performance in the district. Science results follow a similar trajectory, with fourth grade science showing a stronger outcome than eighth grade. A parent might want to ask the district how it supports math instruction in the middle grades and what interventions are in place.

Graduation rate data for the district's high schools was not available in the materials provided. State testing results for high school grades were not included in the assessment data either, so performance at the secondary level cannot be characterized from this information. The district's high schools are spread across the county, each serving its own community, and a family considering high school options would want to look at those individual schools directly.

The housing market in Marion County is generally accessible compared to national and state benchmarks. Home values across the county's zip codes show variation, with some towns having more modest prices and others, particularly Hamilton, showing higher values. The weighted average for the district sits below the Alabama state median and well below the national median, reflecting the area's rural character and lower cost of living. Housing values in several of the smaller communities have seen slight declines over the past year, while Haleyville showed a modest increase. For a family moving into the area, the range of prices means there are options across the affordability spectrum, and the commute between towns is manageable within a rural context.

The district operates a dozen identified schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools spread across the towns, as well as a now-closed alternative school. The schools are the institutional anchors of their respective communities, and each serves a relatively small population. That means the experience of a student at Hamilton High School may differ in meaningful ways from that of a student at Hackleburg High School or Phillips High School, even though they share the same district administration.

Marion County Schools stands as the only school district in the county, so comparisons to neighboring districts are not possible using the data provided. The district does not appear to have made any major recent changes that were publicly reported and of lasting impact, based on available information. There was no data on advanced coursework, career and technical programs, or dual enrollment offerings, so a family interested in those opportunities would need to reach out to the district or the individual high schools to learn what is available. The district's strengths lie in early elementary reading, while the middle school math performance is an area where families may want to understand the local approach and resources available. The rural, community-anchored nature of the schools and the affordable housing market are the defining characteristics of this district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,358

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 7%

Black 4%

White 85%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

73%

89%

Gr 4

68%

85%

Gr 5

64%

86%

Gr 6

64%

83%

Gr 7

62%

73%

Gr 8

61%

68%

Math

Gr 3

61%

82%

Gr 4

50%

72%

Gr 5

44%

67%

Gr 6

31%

61%

Gr 7

20%

36%

Gr 8

23%

34%

Science

Gr 4

55%

72%

Gr 8

42%

49%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Brilliant School

Marion County High School

Guin Elementary School

Hackleburg High School

Hamilton Middle School

Hamilton High School

Phillips High School

Marion County Alternative School

Phillips Elementary School

Hamilton Elementary School

Hackleburg Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

69%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

43%

Grade 6

25%

Grade 7

28%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

79%

Grade 3

74%

Grade 4

72%

Grade 5

71%

Grade 6

66%

Grade 7

64%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

62%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$159,055

Year-over-year change-1.5%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$117K to $187K

vs. state typical0.67x

vs. national typical0.43x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
35570	Hamilton	$170K	-1.0%	33.0%
35563		$148K	-4.1%	10.9%
35564	Hackleburg	$151K	+0.5%	9.0%
35565	Haleyville	$128K	+5.3%	8.8%
35593	Vina	$170K	-8.3%	6.3%
35594	Winfield	$172K	-0.6%	5.9%
35552	Detroit	$144K	-2.5%	5.2%
35581	Phil Campbell	$177K	-5.8%	2.1%
35571	Hodges	$187K	-8.0%	2.0%
35554	Eldridge	$117K	-2.3%	1.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$803/mo

Home price / national median income1.9x

Comparison

State typical home value$236,705 (+1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.