2024 Best Schools in Marion County

• Pella Community School District, IA•

• 7-8

• grade A minus

• Students 399

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Pella Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  130 reviews

Senior: Well-funded programs, compassionate staff, and competitive academic and extracurricular opportunities. Good for college readiness!... Read 130 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 738

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Pella Community School District, IA•

• 4-6

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 521

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Pella Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-3

• grade B+

• Students 449

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pella Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-3

• grade B+

• Students 356

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Pella, IA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  59 reviews

Senior: As a whole, Pella Christian does a very good job trying to connect all of the students that attend the school. As of 2022, the high school adopted a block schedule which I think prepares students well for what college schedules tend to be like. But on the flip side, the grade school also began block scheduling which I believe is unnecessary for middle schoolers because of their shorter attention spans and smaller classrooms. Pella Christian is very unique in that they have a spanish Immersion program with which i have been involved since first grade (2012). My class and I are now fluent in the language and have had teachers from all over the world as we have grown up. The school has made a conscious effort to listen to the suggestions that the Spanish immersion class has to improve the program for future generations, which I think is an extremely good quality to have as a school and organization.... Read 59 reviews

• grade B

• Students 266

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Pleasantville Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  40 reviews

Senior: Great school district with small class sizes. Quality teachers and staff. I have enjoyed every minute of my high school experience the last four years.... Read 40 reviews

• grade B

• Students 232

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Pleasantville Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-6

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Pleasantville Elementary is ranked in the top 10% of all schools in the state according to the Iowa School Report Card. They are just one of 9 schools in the state to receive the Model PLC award from Solution Tree. They are a school that teaches the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and the Leader In Me program as part of their curriculum. Diversity isn't something they can control, so this seems like a ridiculous factor to consider. The staff have done a phenomenal job of closing the gap between various groups and gives 110% effort to meet kids' needs. I've never experienced a school that celebrates kids and there success like this one.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• Students 422

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pleasantville Community School District, IA•

• 7-8

• grade C+

• Students 115

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Twin Cedars Community School District, IA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  22 reviews

Alum: Small school, everyone knows everyone. Close, connected community. Teachers care about students. Opportunity to do whatever extra curricular activity you want... Read 22 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 146

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Knoxville Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.31 out of 5  89 reviews

Parent: I would like to see our athletic department get better. Better coaching, better scores.. Favoritism is big, we need to push our students to suceed, not belittle their ego or sit them out because they are not populous .... Read 89 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 525

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Knoxville Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade C+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Melcher-Dallas Community School District, IA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.44 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: I like the Melcher-Dallas high-school for many reasons. One reason is the staff. Most of the staff is very friendly and accepting to all students. While there are some staff members who don’t hold all students to the same rules and treat them differently, most of the staff is amazing. Another reason I like this high school is because of the small school aspect. When you need one on one help you can get it almost immediately, and everyone knows everyone so it is easy to create bonds and friendships. One of the last reasons I like the Melcher-Dallas high school is the fact that there are many opportunities to do what you want. For example, you can be in any sport you want plus any extracurricular activities, and usually there can be accommodations made so that can be available to you. Overall, one of the only things I would change is the fact that all rules should be applied to all students, not just some. All students should be held accountable for the same rules and regulations.... Read 9 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 159

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Twin Cedars Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-6

• grade C

• Students 189

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Knoxville Community School District, IA•

• 3-5

• grade C

• Students 330

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Melcher-Dallas Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-6

• grade C minus

• Students 181

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Knoxville Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-2

• grade B minus

• Students 426

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pella, IA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: We LOVE Pella Christian Grade School! The academics are high quality, the teachers are fantastic and the atmosphere is such a wonderful place for our kids to be! We know that while at PCGS and away from our home, our kids are getting the exact same godly, Biblical values that we teach at home. We are so thankful for a school to partner with us in providing an Christian environment for our kids!... Read 3 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 527

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Pella, IA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• grade unavailable

• Students 38

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Pella, IA•

• Preschool

• grade unavailable

• Students 11

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Pella, IA•

• Preschool

• grade unavailable

• Students 11

• Student-teacher ratio —