Francis Marion School

Summary:

Francis Marion School is an alternative public school in Marion, Alabama, serving grades PK-12 with a student population of 483. This school stands out for its predominantly African American student body, with over 99% of students identifying as such in recent years.

Compared to the nearby Breakthrough Charter School, Francis Marion School has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (99% vs. 59%) and a much higher rate of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (90% vs. 46%). However, the school's academic performance consistently underperforms state and county averages, with 0% proficiency in 11th-grade Mathematics and English, while the state averages were 23% and 28%, respectively. Despite these challenges, Francis Marion School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 14.6 to 18.5 over the past three school years, suggesting potential for more personalized attention and targeted interventions.

The persistent academic underperformance at Francis Marion School, coupled with the high concentration of economically disadvantaged students, highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the school's educational strategies, resources, and support systems. Exploring the differences in educational approaches and resources between Francis Marion School and the nearby Breakthrough Charter School could provide valuable insights into strategies for improving outcomes at Francis Marion School and addressing the unique needs of its student population.


Detail:

Public, Alternative PK, KG-12

 101 Hubbard Drive
       Marion, AL  36756-2100


(334) 683-6791

District: Perry County

SchoolDigger Rank:
604th of 684 Alabama Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,024 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  17.5 Help
Number of students:  464

Racial breakdown:

African American:
97.6%
White:
1.5%
Two or more races:
0.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  87.9% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Francis Marion School ranks worse than 88.3% of elementary schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.71. (See more...)
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Compare Details Francis Marion School ranks worse than 95.2% of middle schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.45. (See more...)
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Compare Details Francis Marion School ranks worse than 98.1% of high schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.55. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Francis Marion School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (97.6%), White (1.5%), two or more races (0.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 87.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Francis Marion School is 17.5. (See more...)
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Compare Francis Marion School employs 26.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Francis Marion School is $11,024.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Francis Marion School:

SchoolDigger ranks Francis Marion School 604th of 684 Alabama public elementary schools. (See Francis Marion School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Francis Marion School 421st of 442 Alabama public middle schools. (See Francis Marion School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Francis Marion School 371st of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Francis Marion School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:




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Rank History for Francis Marion School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 20.32 538th 623 13.6%
2005 44.42 426th 688 38.1%
2006 33.79 525th 689 23.8%
2007 61.89 269th 698 61.5%
2008 33.56 541st 698 22.5%
2009 29.44 571st 696 18.0%
2010 41.19 513th 704 27.1%
2011 9.53 685th 709 3.4%
2012 31.40 566th 696 18.7%
2013 39.69 519th 696 25.4%
2014 11.74 652nd 695 6.2%
2015 10.62 647th 691 6.4%
2016 7.87 664th 691 3.9%
2017 13.48 613th 688 10.9%
2018 10.41 627th 680 7.8%
2019 17.80 573rd 681 15.9%
2021 11.77 638th 692 7.8%
2022 13.41 602nd 687 12.4%
2023 13.70 590th 680 13.2%
2024 12.71 604th 684 11.7%
See the entire list of Alabama Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 16.67 494th 567 12.9%
2018 10.43 619th 651 4.9%
2019 20.71 554th 649 14.6%
2021 14.24 603rd 653 7.7%
2022 15.45 578th 651 11.2%
2023 15.47 557th 623 10.6%
2024 15.55 592nd 670 11.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 14.37 574th 639 10.2%
2018 12.28 582nd 640 9.1%
2019 23.93 514th 646 20.4%
2021 15.35 572nd 656 12.8%
2022 15.03 579th 656 11.7%
2023 12.16 589th 645 8.7%
2024 11.95 605th 650 6.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 13.75 573rd 639 10.3%
2018 12.17 596th 650 8.3%
2019 15.97 568th 650 12.6%
2021 10.11 642nd 669 4.0%
2022 13.86 590th 669 11.8%
2023 16.19 546th 649 15.9%
2024 18.53 535th 655 18.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 29.15 252nd 336 25.0%
2018 25.67 349th 423 17.5%
2019 39.46 253rd 426 40.6%
2021 22.03 373rd 426 12.4%
2022 27.49 325th 426 23.7%
2023 28.97 317th 427 25.8%
2024 28.35 323rd 420 23.1%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Francis Marion School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2016 8.16 405th 432 6.3%
2017 7.16 413th 432 4.4%
2018 6.18 413th 423 2.4%
2019 10.80 400th 437 8.5%
2021 14.26 390th 440 11.4%
2022 7.77 428th 432 0.9%
2023 9.41 416th 437 4.8%
2024 9.45 421st 442 4.8%
See the entire list of Alabama Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.69 387th 396 2.3%
2019 13.51 364th 396 8.1%
2021 18.51 363rd 415 12.5%
2022 9.63 418th 421 0.7%
2023 13.85 384th 410 6.3%
2024 10.22 424th 437 3.0%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 6.15 369th 380 2.9%
2018 7.00 376th 392 4.1%
2019 12.25 360th 399 9.8%
2021 14.64 368th 415 11.3%
2022 8.79 413th 423 2.4%
2023 9.48 397th 417 4.8%
2024 11.05 397th 426 6.8%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 9.80 355th 380 6.6%
2018 6.20 388th 397 2.3%
2019 11.87 366th 399 8.3%
2021 14.70 371st 418 11.2%
2022 8.44 420th 427 1.6%
2023 11.54 388th 419 7.4%
2024 9.49 414th 428 3.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.14 232nd 247 6.1%
2019 27.57 203rd 252 19.4%
2021 27.13 206th 266 22.6%
2022 16.99 262nd 271 3.3%
2023 22.06 231st 263 12.2%
2024 21.42 238th 269 11.5%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Francis Marion School

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Rank History for all high school students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2016 8.13 330th 351 6.0%
2017 12.50 322nd 353 8.8%
2018 7.81 328th 356 7.9%
2019 3.42 363rd 366 0.8%
2021 7.75 366th 371 1.3%
2022 7.69 361st 367 1.6%
2023 11.71 346th 371 6.7%
2024 8.55 371st 378 1.9%
See the entire list of Alabama Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 19.31 277th 315 12.1%
2018 11.28 317th 349 9.2%
2019 4.18 354th 358 1.1%
2021 10.90 348th 361 3.6%
2022 8.96 356th 361 1.4%
2023 12.17 330th 349 5.4%
2024 9.54 369th 375 1.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 22.07 272nd 343 20.7%
2018 13.67 298th 347 14.1%
2019 3.69 349th 354 1.4%
2021 9.61 340th 359 5.3%
2022 7.22 358th 367 2.5%
2023 12.94 326th 358 8.9%
2024 9.54 352nd 366 3.8%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 4.05 344th 350 1.7%
2019 3.73 354th 357 0.8%
2021 7.73 360th 366 1.6%
2022 10.69 346th 366 5.5%
2023 11.22 344th 358 3.9%
2024 8.96 359th 368 2.4%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Francis Marion School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.85 168th 223 24.7%
2019 12.08 218th 224 2.7%
2021 22.20 210th 228 7.9%
2022 20.71 206th 222 7.2%
2023 26.06 179th 224 20.1%
2024 20.16 214th 231 7.4%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Francis Marion School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 









Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Francis Marion School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 543 543
1989 44 482 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 526
1990 29 474 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 503
1991 38 567 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 605
1992 30 532 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 562
1993 28 517 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 545
1994 28 563 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 591
1995 20 525 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 545
1996 20 525 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 545
1997 19 543 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 564
1998 5 557 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 562
1999 5 510 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 516
2000 13 723 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 737
2001 13 703 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 716
2002 7 651 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 658
2003 7 651 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 658
2004 9 629 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 638
2005 11 611 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 623
2006 13 604 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 618
2007 6 597 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 603
2008 13 562 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 575
2009 11 557 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 571
2010 16 550 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 569
2011 11 524 1 4 0 0 0 0 540
2012 9 515 0 0 1 0 0 0 525
2013 8 499 0 2 0 0 0 0 509
2014 9 490 1 0 0 0 1 0 501
2015 7 468 1 0 0 0 1 0 477
2016 13 788 0 0 0 1 2 0 804
2017 13 769 0 0 0 0 2 0 784
2018 8 696 1 0 0 0 2 0 707
2019 6 696 1 1 0 0 1 0 705
2020 6 656 1 2 0 0 1 0 666
2021 3 641 1 1 0 0 1 0 647
2022 2 590 0 2 0 0 1 0 595
2023 1 480 0 1 0 0 1 0 483
2024 7 453 0 1 0 0 3 0 464

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Francis Marion School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 543 26.0 20.8 0
1989 526 24.0 21.9 n/a
1990 503 29.0 17.3 0
1991 605 31.0 19.5 n/a
1992 562 33.0 17.0 n/a
1993 545 33.0 16.5 n/a
1994 591 36.4 16.2 n/a
1995 545 31.2 17.5 n/a
1996 545 31.2 17.5 n/a
1997 564 32.0 17.6 89
1998 562 31.2 18.0 90.2
1999 516 34.9 14.8 95
2000 737 45.9 16.1 93.2
2001 716 44.9 15.9 94.4
2002 658 46.2 14.2 96.7
2003 658 46.2 14.2 96.7
2004 638 42.8 14.9 97
2005 623 42.8 14.6 99.5
2006 618 41.0 15.1 98.2
2007 603 41.6 14.5 98.3
2008 575 40.9 14.1 99.5
2009 571 38.8 14.6 96.3
2010 569 36.0 15.8 91.9
2011 540 38.6 13.9 96.1
2012 525 36.2 14.4 96.6
2013 509 40.2 12.6 90.4
2014 501 32.2 15.5 90
2015 477 31.0 15.3 71.3
2016 804 49.0 16.4 64.9
2017 784 47.0 16.6 70.5
2018 707 47.5 14.8 91.1
2019 705 43.5 16.1 90.8
2020 666 44.5 14.9 90.7
2021 647 39.0 16.5 91
2022 595 32.0 18.5 89.6
2023 483 33.0 14.6 89.9
2024 464 26.5 17.5 87.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Francis Marion School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 543 26.0 20.8 0
1989 526 24.0 21.9 n/a
1990 503 29.0 17.3 0
1991 605 31.0 19.5 n/a
1992 562 33.0 17.0 n/a
1993 545 33.0 16.5 n/a
1994 591 36.4 16.2 n/a
1995 545 31.2 17.5 n/a
1996 545 31.2 17.5 n/a
1997 564 32.0 17.6 89
1998 562 31.2 18.0 90.2
1999 516 34.9 14.8 95
2000 737 45.9 16.1 93.2
2001 716 44.9 15.9 94.4
2002 658 46.2 14.2 96.7
2003 658 46.2 14.2 96.7
2004 638 42.8 14.9 97
2005 623 42.8 14.6 99.5
2006 618 41.0 15.1 98.2
2007 603 41.6 14.5 98.3
2008 575 40.9 14.1 99.5
2009 571 38.8 14.6 96.3
2010 569 36.0 15.8 91.9
2011 540 38.6 13.9 96.1
2012 525 36.2 14.4 96.6
2013 509 40.2 12.6 90.4
2014 501 32.2 15.5 90
2015 477 31.0 15.3 71.3
2016 804 49.0 16.4 64.9
2017 784 47.0 16.6 70.5
2018 707 47.5 14.8 91.1
2019 705 43.5 16.1 90.8
2020 666 44.5 14.9 90.7
2021 647 39.0 16.5 91
2022 595 32.0 18.5 89.6
2023 483 33.0 14.6 89.9
2024 464 26.5 17.5 87.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Francis Marion School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $2,341 (21.2%) $8,680 (78.7%) $11,024

Data source: Alabama Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Francis Marion School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 573rd of 681 Elementary schoolsRanks 590th of 680 Elementary schools
 2.6%
Ranks 400th of 437 Middle schoolsRanks 416th of 437 Middle schools
 3.7%
Ranks 363rd of 366 High schoolsRanks 346th of 371 High schools
 5.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)2522.7
 2.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Perry County)32.919.2
 13.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Alabama)57.543.6
 13.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)27.86.9
 20.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Perry County)33.63.9
 29.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)47.334.9
 12.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)29.50
 29.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Perry County)24.53.6
 21%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)44.933.9
 10.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)23.38.1
 15.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Perry County)30.29
 21.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)45.330.8
 14.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)12.30
 12.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Perry County)18.80
 18.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)43.121
 22.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Francis Marion School)8.32.7
 5.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Perry County)9.91.2
 8.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)44.721.1
 23.6%
End of Course Mathematics (Francis Marion School)4.40
 4.4%
   End of Course Mathematics (Perry County)5.70
 5.7%
   End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)42.523.6
 19%
End of Course Science (Francis Marion School)6.77
 0.3%
   End of Course Science (Perry County)6.87
 0.2%
   End of Course Science (Alabama)42.631.7
 10.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students705483
 31.5%
African American696480
 31%
American Indian00
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic11
Pacific Islander00
White61
 83.3%
Two or More Races11
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients90.8%89.9%
 0.9%


Schools Near Francis Marion School









Frequently Asked Questions about Francis Marion School

Students at Francis Marion School are 98% African American, 2% White.

In the 2023-24 school year, 464 students attended Francis Marion School.

Francis Marion School ranks in the bottom 11.7% of Alabama alternative schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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