Private School Review - Established 2003
Pella Christian High School Top 3 · Most AP Courses (IA)
Pella Christian Grade School Top 7 · Largest Endowment (IA)

Best Marion County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 private schools serving 899 students in Marion County, IA (there are 16 public schools, serving 5,601 public students). 14% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
100% of private schools in Marion County, IA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Other and Christian).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Marion County Private Schools (2026-27)

Pella Christian Grade School Photo
Pella Christian Grade School
Gr: PK-8 | 549 students
Avg. class size: 19 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 8
Specialized Curriculum
216 Liberty Street
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-2414
(2)
View Profile
Pella Christian High School Photo
Pella Christian High School
Gr: 9-12 | 302 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 16 | Extracurriculars: 11
300 Eagle Ln
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-4440
(1)
View Profile
Map of Peoria Christian School
Peoria Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 48 students
Christian
110 Peoria West St
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 625-4131
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (IA)
US
# Schools
3 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearMarion County Total Schools
20253
20243
20233
20223
20213
20203
20193
20183
20173
20163
20153
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Students
899 Students
52,730 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025300217179
2024300212172
2023280192174
2022271203185
2021274201180
2020274196171
2019288199175
2018295197172
2017296195180
2016296194178
2015282188167
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Average Students of Color
4%
16%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20254%16%34%
20244%16%34%
20234%17%33%
20223%15%33%
20213%16%32%
20203%15%32%
20194%14%31%
20183%15%31%
20176%13%32%
20166%13%32%
20154%12%32%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
74 Teachers
4,273 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202512:112:111:1
202412:112:111:1
202313:113:111:1
202214:113:111:1
202114:113:111:1
202014:113:112:1
201915:114:112:1
201816:114:112:1
201716:113:112:1
201616:113:112:1
201516:113:112:1
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
43%
39%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2016-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202543%40%55%
202443%41%54%
202343%41%54%
202243%41%54%
202143%42%54%
202043%42%54%
201943%42%53%
201840%39%53%
201740%36%53%
201640%38%52%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average Class Size
19 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025191615
2024191615
2023191515
2022191615
2021191615
2020191615
2019191615
2018191615
2017191515
2016191515
2015201515
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average Number of AP Courses
15 courses
9 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202515913
202415912
202315811
202215911
202115911
202015911
201915811
20181711
20171710
20161710
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
25

ACT Score Trends (2016-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025242526
2024242526
2023262526
2022262526
2021262526
2020262425
2019262425
2018252425
2017252425
2016252425
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$9,850
$9,320

Tuition Cost Trends (2017-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025$9,850$9,791$15,012
2024$9,850$7,091$13,254
2018$6,300$5,153$11,017
2017$6,300$4,857$10,708
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average Endowment Size
$5.5 million
$23.33 million

Endowment Trends (2019-2025)

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025$5 M$23 M$60 M
2024$5 M$3 M$59 M
2023$5 M$3 M$71 M
2022$5 M$3 M$76 M
2021$5 M$3 M$71 M
2020$5 M$4 M$74 M
2019$5 M$4 M$78 M
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.32
0.48

Diversity Score Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20250.320.470.65
20240.320.470.65
20230.240.500.65
20220.350.470.64
20210.350.470.64
20200.350.470.64
20190.370.460.63
20180.390.450.63
20170.380.390.61
20160.380.390.61
20150.340.390.61
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# American Indian Students
n/a
116 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
9 Students
1,075 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20252%3%5%
20242%2%5%
20232%3%5%
20221%2%4%
20211%3%4%
20201%2%4%
20191%2%4%
20181%2%4%
20171%2%4%
20161%2%4%
20151%2%4%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Hispanic Students
10 Students
3,392 Students
% Hispanic Students
1%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20251%6%9%
20241%7%9%
20231%6%9%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Black Students
11 Students
1,537 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20251%3%7%
20241%3%7%
20231%3%8%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# White Students
728 Students
36,965 Students
% White Students
81%
70%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202581%70%52%
202481%71%52%
202387%68%52%
202279%71%54%
202178%70%54%
202078%71%54%
201977%72%56%
201875%72%56%
201776%77%58%
201676%76%58%
201580%76%58%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
98 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
139 Students
9,674 Students
% of Others Students
16%
18%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearMarion County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202515%18%26%
202415%17%26%
20239%20%25%
202219%18%25%
202119%18%25%
202019%18%24%
201920%18%24%
201822%18%23%
201722%15%22%
201622%16%22%
201518%16%21%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full County Data: Full County Dataset XML | Full County Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
12 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Marion County, IA?
The top ranked private schools in Marion County, IA include Pella Christian Grade School, Peoria Christian School, and Pella Christian High School.
How many private schools are located in Marion County?
3 private schools are located in Marion County.
What percentage of students in Marion County go to private school?
14% of all K-12 students in Marion County are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Marion County?
100% of private schools in Marion County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Other and Christian).

Recent Articles

How Much Homework Is Too Much?
How Much Homework Is Too Much?
Learn how to compare private school homework expectations, recognize excessive workloads, evaluate assignment quality, and ask better questions about academic balance before choosing a school for your child.
Learning Support Without a Formal Program
Learning Support Without a Formal Program
Learn what private schools mean by informal learning support, how services differ from formal programs, and which questions families should ask before choosing the right school today.
Beyond AP vs. IB: How to Judge Academic Rigor
Beyond AP vs. IB: How to Judge Academic Rigor
Learn how to judge academic rigor at private schools without AP or IB by examining curriculum depth, assessments, faculty expectations, advanced coursework, student work, and college preparation outcomes.

Filter Schools

School Level
Must Offer Grade
▼ Show more
Gender
School Focus
Religious Affiliation
ADD/ADHD Support
Summer Program

Quick Links

SCHOOL SEARCH TOOLS:
SCHOOL BY TYPE (IA):
OPEN-HOUSES & JOBS:
PUBLIC & BOARDING SCHOOLS:
PRIVATE SCHOOL DATA: