Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 6 schools in district

Vernon Middle School

1350 4th Avenue, Marion, IA 52302Marion Independent School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
668
Students
Total enrolled
$18,209
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 27% vs nat'l
15.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
50/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 668 students in grades 05–08 in Marion, Iowa.
27% above average funding
District spends $18,209 per pupil, 27% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 50th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Vernon Middle School is a large middle in Marion, Iowa, serving grades 05–08 with 668 students. The district invests $18,209 per student — 27% above the national average of $14,347, with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Vernon Middle School

668
Total Students
15.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
40%
Free Lunch
43
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution347 male · 321 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility40%
National avg 52% · 265 students
Student Composition
82%
White82%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Black5%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 191869001078

Academic Outcomes at Vernon Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
50
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 50th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 80th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 52302

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,209Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,209
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,012
Student Support$3,460
Administration$2,185
Operations$2,731
Other$1,821
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,209 spent per student, an estimated $8,067 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
43%
48%
State government
43.1%
Local (property tax)
47.7%
Federal programs
9.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,209/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Longfellow ElementaryFrancis Marion Intermediate SchoolStarry Elementary School
↓
High School
Marion High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyLinn County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictMarion Independent School District →
Phone: (319)377-9401
NCES ID: 191869001078
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Marion seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Marion Independent School District
High
Marion High School
722 students · 09–12
● 50 opp28% FRL
Elem
Longfellow Elementary
318 students · PK–02
● 50 opp38% FRL
Elem
Francis Marion Intermediate School
269 students · 03–04
● 50 opp45% FRL
Elem
Starry Elementary School
252 students · KG–02
● 50 opp50% FRL
Other
Emerson Learning Center (HSAP)
0 students · KG–12
● 50 opp
District School Rankings
Location
1350 4th Avenue, Marion, IA 52302
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.