Best Elementary Schools in Ocala, FL

The city of Ocala, Florida is home to 23 elementary schools that serve students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, with a few exceptions going up to 8th grade. These schools are part of the Marion School District, which is ranked 61 out of 68 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

A few schools stand out as high-performing, including Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, which ranks 84th out of 2,256 elementary schools in Florida and has a 5-star rating, as well as Eighth Street Elementary School and Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary School, both of which have 5-star and 4-star ratings respectively. In contrast, schools like Oakcrest Elementary have much higher chronic absenteeism rates and lower test scores.

The data reveals a stark contrast in academic performance between the top-performing schools and the lower-performing ones, with a correlation between socioeconomic factors and student outcomes. However, there are exceptions, such as Ina A. Colen Academy, which has a very low free/reduced lunch rate but still achieves strong academic results. These findings suggest that factors beyond just socioeconomic status, such as school culture, leadership, and teaching quality, play a crucial role in student success across the Marion School District.