The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Math. The lowest is 75% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Francis Marion Intermediate School
Francis Marion Intermediate School is a regular public school in Marion, Iowa, serving only third and fourth graders. It is part of the Marion Independent School District. Because the school exists purely in the early elementary years, it has no graduation rate, no high school outcomes, and no data on chronic absenteeism or college readiness—those metrics simply do not apply here. The school’s size is moderate for a two-grade building, and its student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to a mix of economic backgrounds. State assessment data from the most recent year shows that a strong majority of students meet or exceed proficiency standards in both math and reading. The math proficiency rate is higher than the English language arts rate, and both are solid enough that, when averaged together, the school’s overall academic performance lands above the midpoint among elementary and intermediate schools across Linn County. This is a school where a typical third or fourth grader, on average, is performing at a level that matches or exceeds county peers. Parents evaluating the school will want to note that the available test data covers just a single year, so trend information is not yet present to show whether performance is improving or declining. The school’s location in Marion places it within commuting distance of Cedar Rapids, but the immediate housing market reflects a moderately priced community. Home values in the area run above the statewide average, though they remain below the national figure. Rental costs have been rising at a faster clip, which may matter for families weighing whether to rent or buy before the child enters third grade. The broader economic context shows typical conditions: a national unemployment rate that has been stable and a median household income near the national median. Publicly reported information about recent new housing developments or growth in Marion was not available in our research, so we cannot speak to whether the neighborhood is expanding or seeing new construction. Similarly, we looked for district-level news about bond measures or referendums in recent years but found little; the district brief produced no concrete updates, so we left that out rather than speculate. What is clear is that Francis Marion is a focused, mid-sized intermediate school with reasonably strong test scores and a student population that is economically diverse. Families who value a short grade span—just two years—may find the school’s narrow focus appealing, as it allows students to settle into a building dedicated specifically to their age group before transitioning to a middle school. The absence of data on special education and English learner populations is a gap a parent might want to explore directly with the school, as those supports can be critical for some students. Likewise, the school’s Title I status is not reported in the data we have, so if federal funding for additional resources matters to a family, that is another question to raise with the district. In sum, Francis Marion Intermediate School offers a solid academic foundation in a modest-sized community, with performance that holds up well against county peers, though the picture is limited by the school’s early-grade-only structure and the thinness of available contextual information.
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