The Marion School District and its six schools made major gains on their 2026 state letter grades, with every school in the district posting growth in the point totals, resulting in letter grade jumps for five of the six schools. The letter grades and school scores were released Thursday by the Arkansas Department of Education.
Overall, Marion schools gained a staggering 565.88 total points in the state’s accountability system, representing a combined jump of 11 letter-grade levels across the district. This progress reflects months of intentional, targeted effort in our classrooms, with every campus demonstrating measurable growth and several schools making dramatic multi-grade leaps.
As a district, Marion earned a C grade. The largest letter grade jump came from MJHS, which jumped up three spots to earn a B grade. HCGC and 7GA both jumped two spots to earn Cs. Also moving up one letter grade were MHS and VPA.
Additionally, both MHS and MJHS were named recipients of the state’s new “Gem Award,” which recognizes schools that distinguished themselves for educational progress. Both schools were honored for their achievement in literacy growth.
“Ultimately, these grades make it clear that the strategies we have implemented in our classrooms are working,” said Dr. Glen Fenter, Marion superintendent. “Student success does not happen in a vacuum – it requires great teaching, and it requires a commitment to building an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. That’s what is happening in the Marion School District.”
The state’s grading system utilizes a complex formula designed to measure student achievement, growth, and readiness based on ATLAS test scores and other factors. Each school and each district receives a numeric score, which is then used to calculate a letter grade. Historically, state letter grades have correlated closely with community socioeconomic factors, making Marion's district-wide surge an even more significant achievement.
“We know that no single letter grade or state algorithm can truly capture the heart and value of our schools; but make no mistake: These gains represent genuine, life-changing growth for our students,” Fenter said. “I am incredibly proud of our staff for beating the odds and rising to the challenge before them. This is a clear and exciting sign that the intentional work taking place in our classrooms each day is making a real difference for our students. We look forward to seeing the trend continue.”
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.