Vanguard High School

Q: Is Vanguard High School a good school?

Vanguard High School ranks 461 st of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Vanguard High School is a public high school in Ocala, Florida, serving 1,661 students in grades 9-12. The school is 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.

Vanguard High School stands out from nearby schools like West Port High School, Forest High School, and others in the area. The school has a more diverse student population, with a more even distribution of White, African American, and Hispanic students. However, Vanguard consistently underperforms the state and district averages in standardized test scores across subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates in Algebra 1 (19%), Geometry (31%), and 10th grade English Language Arts (48%) significantly lower than nearby schools. Additionally, Vanguard's four-year graduation rate has declined from 89.2% in 2018-2019 to 75.8% in 2022-2023, which is lower than the nearby schools.

Vanguard High School also faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism, reaching 31.9% in the 2022-2023 school year, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 59.12% in the same year. These factors suggest that the school serves a population with greater economic challenges, which may contribute to the academic and attendance difficulties observed. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive approach that considers the unique needs of Vanguard's diverse student population and the underlying factors contributing to the observed trends.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

7 NW 28th St
Ocala, FL 34475

(352) 671-4900

District: Marion

SchoolDigger Rank:
461^st of 807 Florida High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,694

Feeder schools for Vanguard High School:

Elementary:	Oakcrest Elementary School
	Ocala Springs Elementary School
	Wyomina Park Elementary School
Middle:	Fort King Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 23.3

Number of students: 1,661

Racial breakdown:

African American:

34.4%

White:

34.0%

Hispanic:

21.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 59.1%

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Compare Vanguard High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Vanguard High School ranks worse than 57.1% of high schools in Florida. It also ranks 4^th among 8 ranked high schools in the Marion School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.08. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Vanguard High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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

Compare Details Student population at Vanguard High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (34.4%), White (34%), Hispanic (21.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 59.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Vanguard High School is 23.3, which is the 6^th best among 8 high schools in the Marion School District. (See more...)

Compare Vanguard High School employs 71 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Vanguard High School is $8,694, which is the 6^th highest among 8 high schools in the Marion School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Vanguard High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Vanguard High School 461^st of 807 Florida public high schools. (See Vanguard High School in the ranking list.)

Marion:

SchoolDigger ranks Marion 61^st of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Vanguard High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	FL State Percentile
2004	82.23	72^nd	484	85.1%
2005	72.90	123^rd	487	74.7%
2006	78.28	84^th	477	82.4%
2007	77.35	102^nd	563	81.9%
2008	75.26	127^th	577	78.0%
2009	76.23	119^th	587	79.7%
2010	74.80	144^th	620	76.8%
2011	69.35	182^nd	622	70.7%
2012	48.51	253^rd	606	58.3%
2013	50.19	281^st	648	56.6%
2014	52.19	307^th	687	55.3%
2016	49.91	273^rd	693	60.6%
2017	45.43	324^th	714	54.6%
2018	45.14	332^nd	716	53.6%
2019	42.45	362^nd	734	50.7%
2021	37.18	394^th	746	47.2%
2022	37.39	418^th	774	46.0%
2023	39.06	399^th	792	49.6%
2024	36.08	461^st	807	42.9%

See the entire list of Florida High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Vanguard High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	1319	422	6	33	0	n/a	n/a	0	1780
1989	1239	411	9	31	0	n/a	n/a	0	1690
1990	1188	375	9	30	0	n/a	n/a	0	1602
1991	1283	412	10	33	1	n/a	n/a	0	1739
1992	1260	414	12	38	0	n/a	n/a	0	1724
1993	1236	395	14	43	1	n/a	n/a	0	1689
1994	1261	397	11	57	2	n/a	n/a	0	1728
1995	1387	443	18	69	1	n/a	n/a	0	1918
1996	1387	443	18	69	1	n/a	n/a	0	1918
1997	1480	482	25	70	1	n/a	n/a	0	2058
1998	1388	492	24	79	2	n/a	n/a	0	1985
1999	1325	557	36	78	3	n/a	n/a	0	1999
2000	1265	552	36	76	2	n/a	n/a	0	1931
2001	1201	506	35	68	1	n/a	n/a	0	1811
2002	1264	392	40	65	4	n/a	n/a	0	1765
2003	1264	392	40	65	4	n/a	n/a	0	1765
2004	1289	356	37	75	2	n/a	n/a	0	1759
2005	1303	399	35	97	4	n/a	n/a	0	1838
2006	1211	427	44	103	4	n/a	n/a	0	1789
2007	1082	413	47	126	6	n/a	n/a	36	1710
2008	988	413	57	131	5	n/a	n/a	39	1633
2009	961	394	62	136	5	n/a	n/a	53	1611
2010	962	362	63	135	10	n/a	n/a	49	1581
2011	980	433	49	191	10	4	75	0	1742
2012	1008	443	56	213	10	2	80	0	1812
2013	982	468	62	210	11	1	76	0	1810
2014	928	459	66	200	15	1	92	0	1761
2015	855	457	71	226	17	0	94	0	1720
2016	787	498	77	234	15	0	99	0	1710
2017	720	509	71	258	16	2	88	0	1664
2018	709	492	71	281	11	3	116	0	1683
2019	667	497	73	276	9	5	110	0	1637
2020	681	489	75	289	7	3	98	0	1642
2021	623	512	76	295	3	2	84	0	1595
2022	591	513	81	337	0	4	70	0	1596
2023	565	572	82	356	2	6	78	0	1661

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 Vanguard High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1780	97.0	18.3	11.6
1989	1690	103.0	16.4	14.6
1990	1602	98.0	16.3	25.7
1991	1739	100.0	17.3	18.9
1992	1724	101.0	17.0	19.1
1993	1689	100.0	16.9	22.7
1994	1728	100.0	17.3	23.8
1995	1918	103.0	18.6	27.5
1996	1918	103.0	18.6	27.5
1997	2058	113.0	18.2	28.3
1998	1985	117.0	17.0	24.3
1999	1999	115.0	17.4	38.3
2000	1931	118.0	16.4	19.3
2001	1811	110.0	16.5	26.2
2002	1765	90.0	19.6	29.3
2003	1765	90.0	19.6	29.3
2004	1759	86.0	20.5	32.2
2005	1838	89.0	20.7	38.5
2006	1789	94.0	19.0	36.8
2007	1710	95.0	18.0	38.6
2008	1633	91.0	17.9	38.7
2009	1611	90.9	19.6	42.4
2010	1581	83.0	19.0	50.1
2011	1742	85.0	20.4	46.6
2012	1812	85.0	21.3	52.1
2013	1810	85.0	21.2	54.3
2014	1761	76.0	23.1	49.8
2015	1720	82.0	20.9	54.7
2016	1710	80.0	21.3	59.9
2017	1664	79.0	21.0	59
2018	1683	77.0	21.8	59.6
2019	1637	70.0	23.3	59.5
2020	1642	70.0	23.4	58.4
2021	1595	69.0	23.1	57.4
2022	1596	69.0	23.1	59.8
2023	1661	71.0	23.3	59.1

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 Vanguard High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1780	97.0	18.3	11.6
1989	1690	103.0	16.4	14.6
1990	1602	98.0	16.3	25.7
1991	1739	100.0	17.3	18.9
1992	1724	101.0	17.0	19.1
1993	1689	100.0	16.9	22.7
1994	1728	100.0	17.3	23.8
1995	1918	103.0	18.6	27.5
1996	1918	103.0	18.6	27.5
1997	2058	113.0	18.2	28.3
1998	1985	117.0	17.0	24.3
1999	1999	115.0	17.4	38.3
2000	1931	118.0	16.4	19.3
2001	1811	110.0	16.5	26.2
2002	1765	90.0	19.6	29.3
2003	1765	90.0	19.6	29.3
2004	1759	86.0	20.5	32.2
2005	1838	89.0	20.7	38.5
2006	1789	94.0	19.0	36.8
2007	1710	95.0	18.0	38.6
2008	1633	91.0	17.9	38.7
2009	1611	90.9	19.6	42.4
2010	1581	83.0	19.0	50.1
2011	1742	85.0	20.4	46.6
2012	1812	85.0	21.3	52.1
2013	1810	85.0	21.2	54.3
2014	1761	76.0	23.1	49.8
2015	1720	82.0	20.9	54.7
2016	1710	80.0	21.3	59.9
2017	1664	79.0	21.0	59
2018	1683	77.0	21.8	59.6
2019	1637	70.0	23.3	59.5
2020	1642	70.0	23.4	58.4
2021	1595	69.0	23.1	57.4
2022	1596	69.0	23.1	59.8
2023	1661	71.0	23.3	59.1

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 Vanguard High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$254 (3.9%)	$6,253 (96.1%)	$6,507
2019	$390 (5.7%)	$6,497 (94.3%)	$6,887
2020	$253 (3.7%)	$6,555 (96.3%)	$6,809
2021	$499 (6.5%)	$7,232 (93.5%)	$7,732
2022	$1,552 (18.6%)	$6,794 (81.4%)	$8,347
2023	$903 (10.4%)	$7,791 (89.6%)	$8,694

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Vanguard High 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 362^nd of 734 High schools	Ranks 399^th of 792 High schools	1.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard High School)	51	49	2%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Marion)	50	46	4%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	55	51	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Vanguard High School)	50	40	10%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Marion)	46	42	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	53	49	4%
End of Course Biology 1 (Vanguard High School)	67	58	9%
End of Course Biology 1 (Marion)	64	58	6%
End of Course Biology 1 (Florida)	67	63	4%
End of Course US History (Vanguard High School)	69	68	1%
End of Course US History (Marion)	71	65	6%
End of Course US History (Florida)	70	63	7%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Vanguard High School)	22	14	8%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Marion)	55	44	11%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%
End of Course Geometry (Vanguard High School)	44	26	18%
End of Course Geometry (Marion)	51	41	10%
End of Course Geometry (Florida)	57	50	7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1637	1661	1.5%
African American	497	572	15.1%
American Indian	9	2	77.8%
Asian	73	82	12.3%
Hispanic	276	356	29%
Pacific Islander	5	6	20%
White	667	565	15.3%
Two or More Races	110	78	29.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.5%	59.1%	0.4%

Schools Near Vanguard High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)				FAST Math (2024)		Statewide Science Science (2024)	EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Biology 1 (2024)	EOC US History (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Vanguard High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	7 NW 28th St	Ocala	34475	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 671-4900	1,661	71	23.3	59.1%	565 (34.0%)	572 (34.4%)	356 (21.4%)	82 (4.9%)	2 (0.1%)	6 (0.4%)	78 (4.7%)	36.1	461^st of 807 public high schools	42.9%		39.1	399^th of 792 public high schools	49.6%	62			47.0	48.0				19.0	31.0	58.0	63.0	$8,694	$903	$7,791
Pace Center For Girls Inc.	Public	6-12	328 NE 1st Ave	Ocala	34470	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 369-0571	36	1	36.0	83.3%	19 (52.8%)	10 (27.8%)	5 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.6%)								(n/a)
Marion Technical Institute	Public, Magnet	8-12	1614 E Fort King St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 671-4765	162	17	9.5	54.9%	78 (48.1%)	34 (21.0%)	33 (20.4%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	13 (8.0%)								(n/a)		11.0				13.0	11.0		30.0			$26,375	$3,476	$22,899
Marion County Acceleration Academy	Public	7-12	1515 E Silver Springs Blvd	Ocala	34470	Marion County	Marion	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(352) 329-2799	88	4	22.0	80.7%	30 (34.1%)	31 (35.2%)	21 (23.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.8%)								(n/a)				36.0
Marion Reg. Juvenile Detention Center	Public	6-12	3040 NW 10th St	Ocala	34475	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	No	(352) 732-1450	43	0		34.9%	24 (55.8%)	15 (34.9%)	2 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.7%)								(n/a)
McSo Adults	Public	8-12	700 NW 30th Ave	Ocala	34475	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 732-1450	20	0		65.0%	7 (35.0%)	12 (60.0%)	1 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)												$16,218	$883	$15,335
Hillcrest	Public	6-12	3143 SE 17th St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-6800	160	30	5.3	48.8%	85 (53.1%)	30 (18.8%)	38 (23.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)								(n/a)												$44,552	$14,750	$29,801
Ocali Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3850 West Anthony Rd	Ocala	34475	Marion County	Marion	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(352) 264-9940	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)			38.0	21.0				13.0	30.0	36.0	45.0
Silver River Mentoring And Instruction	Public	6-12	2500 SE 44th Ct	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 694-0191	202	5	40.4	85.6%	66 (32.7%)	82 (40.6%)	40 (19.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.9%)	2.5	775^th of 807 public high schools	4.0%		5.6	700^th of 792 public high schools	11.6%	75	10.0	10.0	0.0	8.0	12.0	13.0	6.0	0.0				$9,221	$345	$8,875
Forest High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	5000 SE Maricamp Rd	Ocala	34480	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 671-4700	2,325	95	24.4	41.9%	1,327 (57.1%)	379 (16.3%)	450 (19.4%)	39 (1.7%)	6 (0.3%)	8 (0.3%)	116 (5.0%)	49.7	306^th of 807 public high schools	62.1%		49.1	300^th of 792 public high schools	62.1%	6			56.0	55.0				41.0	57.0	61.0	64.0	$8,320	$913	$7,407

Frequently Asked Questions about Vanguard High School

What schools feed into Vanguard High School?

Vanguard High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Oakcrest Elementary School
Elementary : Ocala Springs Elementary School
Elementary : Wyomina Park Elementary School
Middle : Fort King Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Vanguard High School?

Students at Vanguard High School are 34% African American, 34% White, 21% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

How many students attend Vanguard High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,661 students attended Vanguard High School.

What district is Vanguard High School in?

Marion

Is Vanguard High School a good school?

Vanguard High School ranks 461^st of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Vanguard High School!

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