The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Math. The lowest is 14% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Marion Seventh Grade Academy
Marion Seventh Grade Academy is a public school serving only seventh-grade students in the Marion School District. The school is located in Marion, a city that serves as the county seat of Crittenden County and lies just west of Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the Memphis metropolitan area. Marion has a significant industrial and logistics presence, anchored by rail intermodal facilities operated by both Union Pacific and BNSF Railway, and a jointly operated port on the Mississippi River. The town experienced rapid population growth in the 2000s and 2010s, though more recent estimates suggest that growth may have plateaued. The housing market in the area shows home values that sit roughly in line with the statewide benchmark, while the national median household income provides a broad economic reference point.
This is a single-grade school, and the enrollment at Marion Seventh Grade Academy is moderate for a single grade. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families are navigating economic constraints. Racially and ethnically, the student population is diverse, with the largest groups being Black students and white students, and smaller shares of Hispanic students, multiracial students, and Asian students. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was missing from available records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the supports it offers for students who need them.
State testing results for the most recent school year show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are all modest. In each subject, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level is below a quarter of those tested. On a composite measure of proficiency across all tested subjects, the school sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Crittenden County, though the overall rates are still low. A parent looking at these results should consider following up with the school to understand how it addresses academic gaps and what interventions or supports are in place for students who are not yet on grade level.
Because the school serves only seventh grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and discipline were not available in the provided records. The school’s narrow grade band means that families will need to plan for transitions into and out of this building. The district as a whole did not appear to have undergone recent major structural changes according to the search results, though parents may want to check directly with the district office for any upcoming program shifts or boundary adjustments.
Marion itself is an auto-oriented community, bisected by major highways and with civic life centered on a traditional courthouse square. The town offers some recreational anchors, including the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge and Horseshoe Lake, and limited passenger rail service via Amtrak’s City of New Orleans. For families considering whether this school fits, the key factors are its single-grade structure, the economic demographics of the student body, and the academic performance data that point to areas where the school may be working to improve student outcomes.
See more original research from School Decision →