Marion Local High School (Maria Stein, Ohio)

Marion Local High School is a public high school located in Maria Stein, in Mercer County, Ohio's Marion Township. It currently has approximately 286 students enrolled. The students are from Maria Stein and several surrounding communities, including Cassella, Chickasaw, St. Rose and St. Sebastian in Mercer County, Osgood in Darke County, as well as a small portion of Auglaize County. These communities were served by a series of local one-room school houses that still stand in Chickasaw, Minster, St. Rose and St. Sebastian. In 1922 a 2-year high school was established in Maria Stein and in 1930 a 3-story brick school (named St. John's School) was completed directly across from St. John's Church. In 1955 the Marion Local Consolidated School District was established and charged with strengthening the educational opportunities for students in the 6 member communities. The Marion Local School District built a new high school, the Marion Local High School, in Maria Stein in 1957.

Notability
Marion Local High School is notable statewide for its athletic prowess. Since 2000, the school has won 14 state football championships, setting a state record previously held by St Ignatius High School of Cleveland, Ohio. In addition, the school has won 9 additional state championships in various sports since 1975, placing it in the upper echelon of state athletic programs. What is equally remarkable is that this success has fostered a "can do" attitude among students leading to academic and musical success described below. Despite its small size the school is ranked academically in the upper 20% of high schools in the state.

Athletics
Marion Local is a member of the Midwest Athletic Conference. They have captured more than 50 league championships in various MAC-sanctioned sports since 1973. Marion Local has the most playoff-era football state championships in the state of Ohio at 14.

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

 * Boys Basketball - 1975, 2003, 2018
 * Girls Basketball – 2003
 * Football – 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * Boys Track and field - 2023, 2024
 * Volleyball - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013

OHSAA State Runner-Up

 * Boys Basketball - 2004
 * Girls Basketball - 2000
 * Football - 2003, 2015, 2018
 * Girls Track and Field - 1989
 * Volleyball - 2002

OHSAA State Final Four

 * Boys Basketball - 1984
 * Football - 1981, 1999, 2008, 2009
 * Softball - 2004
 * Volleyball - 2000

Ohio Music Education Association

 * OMEA State Marching Band Finals participant for 34 straight years (1984 to 2017)
 * 28 Superior Ratings at OMEA State Marching Band Finals.
 * 1984-2008, 2011-2012, 2015–2017
 * Class C in 1984, 1985, 2011, 2012, 2015-2017
 * Class B in 1986, 2006-2010
 * Class A in 1987-1989, 2003-2005
 * Class AA from 1990 through 2002

The Marion Local High School Band is the largest student organization in the high school. In addition to their band activities, more than three-quarters of the members participate in a sport.

Brad Spettel is the current band director.

Notable alumni

 * Cory Luebke - Pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.