The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Marion Junior High School
Marion Junior High School serves just two grades, eighth and ninth, a structure that places it as a transition point between middle school and high school within the Marion School District. Located on Carter Drive in Marion, Arkansas, the school occupies a campus in a town that functions as the Crittenden County seat and sits on the western edge of the Memphis metropolitan area. With an enrollment that is typical for a junior high of this grade span, the school draws from a community shaped by logistics and rail employment, recent growth that has flattened, and a housing market that remains moderately priced relative to the nation.
State assessment results are available for eighth graders, the only tested grade at this school. Across mathematics, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring at the proficient level is modest. A small share met the bar in math, a larger share in English language arts, and science fell in between. When placed against the overall proficiency of the school districts across Crittenden County, Marion Junior High’s combined rate is the highest, but the comparison set is small and the absolute rates are ones a parent may want to explore further with the school. No assessment data is reported for ninth grade, which may reflect that those students take different state tests not captured here.
The student body is diverse and economically disadvantaged at a rate that is substantial. By race and ethnicity, the largest group is Black, followed by a White population that makes up a meaningful share, and smaller numbers of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data provided, so the school’s support structure in those areas is not described here.
Marion itself has a character shaped by its role as a county seat and its location near the Mississippi River, with major rail intermodal facilities from Union Pacific and BNSF providing a logistics employment base. The town grew rapidly through the 2000s and 2010s, but recent estimates suggest that growth has leveled off. Home values in the area sit above the Arkansas average while remaining below the national typical figure, reflecting an affordable market relative to the broader Memphis region. The built environment is highway-oriented and auto-dependent, though a traditional courthouse square provides some civic gathering space.
Several common school metrics are absent from this profile. There is no graduation rate, as eighth and ninth graders are not yet at the point of completing high school. Chronic absenteeism data was not reported, nor were discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access information. A parent considering this school may want to ask the district or school directly about those areas, especially given that the transition through ninth grade can be a critical period for staying on track.
Marion Junior High sits in a district that did not have any recent major changes publicly documented. For families looking at this school, the core facts are its grade configuration, its position as the leading school in a small county comparison, and its student population that is economically diverse and majority Black. The academic results invite further conversation with the school about what proficiency means on this assessment and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting that bar.
See more original research from School Decision →