Marion is in close proximity to two institutions of higher education, Southern Illinois University and John A Logan College, which provide outstanding academic opportunities to students who want to earn a degree, expand their skills and enhance their resume.
JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE
700 Logan College Rd. | Carterville
(618) 985-3741
www.jalc.edu
John A. Logan College is a two-year school that serves students of all ages and backgrounds, and offers dynamic programs with over 150 degrees and certifications. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the college provides quality and affordable education. In 2018, it had a total enrollment of 7,364 students, including 2,204 full-time students and 5,160 part-time students. John A. Logan College participates in NJCAA athletics and provides distance learning, independent study and internship learning environments. The college also has a range of scholarship opportunities available.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
Carbondale
(618) 453-2121
www.siuc.edu
From its humble beginnings as the state’s second teachers college – founded in 1869 with a dozen academic departments and an inaugural class of 143 – Southern Illinois University Carbondale now ranks among Illinois’ most comprehensive public universities. Each year, SIU Carbondale welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries who take advantage of outstanding academic programs as they pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in law and medicine. In 2018, SIU Carbondale had a total enrollment of 12,817 students. The college has over 300 student organizations and participates in NCAA Division I Athletics.
MARION COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
Marion Unit 2 Schools are composed of 232 certified staff that are dedicated to providing quality educational programs to over 4,000 students in seven buildings on a daily basis. These quality programs include strong core academics, a variety of vocational programs, successful fine and applied arts, offerings for talented and special students and a wide spectrum of extra-curricular opportunities.
Nearly 50% of district teachers possess advanced degrees, and 14 staff members are recognized as National Board Certified Teachers.
In 2017, Marion Unit 2 constructed a new 330,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art high school. The new campus accommodates 21st century learning with a science and technology (STEM) lab, a performing and visual arts center, a technical and vocational educational center and an extended learning facility.
The school includes a new health education center with an indoor track, multiple courts, a dance rehearsal area and a fitness center. The educational wing better accommodates the wide variety of honors, advanced placement, capstone vocational courses and college dual credit opportunities that prepare students for experiences in the workplace and at universities and colleges throughout the nation. The high school campus also includes a state-of-the-art outdoor sports complex.
Marion Unit 2 has also made great strides in technology by becoming a Google Apps for Education School District and a 1:1 District. The district continues to increase its bandwidth to accommodate wireless capabilities in all attendance centers, replaced over 750 computers and deployed more than 4,000 Chromebooks/tablets. All Marion High School students learn in a 1:1 digital environment.
All district employees care about the students they serve and enthusiastically strive to provide necessary experiences for students to be successful. District goals include providing a well-rounded educational experience, making education the No. 1 priority of the community, and making parents a meaningful part of the educational program.
Adams School
15470 Lake of Egypt Rd. | Creal Springs
(618) 996-2181
Adams School is a pre-K through 8th grade building serving about 250 students. Adams is a new state-of-the-art facility that replaced the original school, built in 1912.
Jefferson Elementary
700 E. Boulevard St. | Marion
(618) 997-5766
Jefferson is a K-5 school with approximately 325 students. Jefferson also houses all district pre-K classrooms.
Lincoln Elementary
400 Morningside Dr. | Marion
(618) 997-6063
Lincoln Elementary School is a K-5 building serving approximately 610 students.
Longfellow Elementary
1400 W. Hendrickson St. | Marion
(618) 993-3230
Longfellow is a pre-K-5 school and has approximately 375 students.
Washington Elementary
420 E. Main St. | Marion
(618) 997-0460
Washington Elementary School is a K-5 school serving approximately 610 students.
Marion Junior High School
1609 W. Main St. | Marion
(618) 997-1317
Marion Junior High School houses approximately 800 students and strives to enhance the talents of students by providing coordinated academic programs and by encouraging cooperation and unity among peers in a stable physical, social and academic environment.
Marion High School
1700 Wildcat Rd. | Marion
(618) 993-8196
Marion High School serves approximately 1,100 students in a new state-of-the-art facility and health education center that is unrivaled in the Southern Illinois area.
Marion Carnegie Library
206 South Market St. | Marion
(618) 993-5935
www.marioncarnegielibrary.org
Marion Carnegie Library was opened to the public in 1916, with 1,162 volumes and 680 borrowers. The building has undergone several renovations in the years since, including a major expansion in 1997 that added 12,000 square feet.
The library has three floors with dedicated departments for children, young adults and adults. It offers meeting rooms for public use, study rooms and a coffee bar. Library services includes access to digital databases, WIFI, printing, faxing, public computers, legal aid and other community services. Educational, informational, cultural and recreational programs are offered free and open to the public.
Marion Carnegie Library’s collection now exceeds over 130,000 items including large print materials, DVD and digital collections. Marion Carnegie Library averages 170,000 visitors per year and stands as a historical social center in the community. The library’s services and programs are free and open to the community, regardless of library card possession or status.
The library is a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System, the largest library consortium in North America that joins more than 550 member-libraries to share their resources. The system is a regional, multi-type library system serving schools, the public and special and academic libraries. Patrons of other libraries can utilize Marion Carnegie Library’s services.
Local Educational Attainment
Marion is located within 50 miles of 10 institutions which offer associates degrees and 12 universities which offer bachelor’s degree or higher programs.