The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Math. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Justice Thurgood Marshall Intrmd
Justice Thurgood Marshall Intermediate serves fifth and sixth graders in Marion Community Schools, and its data tells a straightforward story about the academic landscape a family would encounter here. This is a school where a very substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the peer group is diverse, with a student body that draws from white, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial families. The school is a regular public intermediate school, not a charter or magnet, and it is the entry point to middle-level schooling for students in this district before they move on.
On state assessments, the picture is clear. Proficiency rates in math, English language arts, science, and social studies all sit well below the midpoint relative to other districts across Grant County. Across the tested subjects, roughly one in five students scored at the proficient level or above. The results are consistent across subjects rather than concentrated in one area, which suggests a broad challenge rather than a narrow one. A parent looking at these numbers would want to ask the school directly about what academic interventions and supports are in place and how the school is working to move those figures. The school does not serve grades beyond six, so there is no graduation rate to consider.
The school itself enrolls around half a thousand students, split roughly evenly between fifth and sixth grade. The building sits on North Miller Avenue in Marion, a city that is the county seat and home to Indiana Wesleyan University, as well as a mix of manufacturing employers and the VA health care system. Marion has seen population decline over recent decades, and the housing market reflects that trend, with home values well below the state benchmark, making the area notably affordable by comparison. A family moving to the area for lower housing costs would find that the community amenities include a riverwalk, the Marion High School performing arts venue, and nearby state recreation areas, though specific new housing developments were not identified in publicly available information.
The district itself is Marion Community Schools, and a search for recent changes or initiatives by the district turned up little of lasting impact that is publicly reported. No new programs, strategic plans, or facility upgrades at the district level were found in the available material.
For a family considering Justice Thurgood Marshall Intermediate, the primary consideration is the academic starting point. The proficiency results are low and consistent across subjects, which is the single most important fact a parent would need to investigate further. The school serves an economically diverse student body, with a large share of families receiving meal assistance, and the intermediate structure means students are in a transitional grade span before high school. The community context is a small industrial city with a stable set of civic institutions, affordable housing, and a population that has been shrinking over time. There is no evidence of the school offering unusual program pathways or accelerated options, and a parent looking for those would want to confirm what is available directly with the school. The data does not include information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios, so those aspects of the school environment remain an open question for any family to explore on a visit.
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