Very Good
#1391 of 3,778 schools in FL
Top 37% in state
Ward-highlands Elementary School
Elementary School · MARION
537 SE 36TH AVE, Ocala, FL 34471
Enrollment
911
Student-Teacher
15.4:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
911
Student-Teacher
15.4:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Florida schools
#1,391 of 3,778
In Ocala
#8 of 39
public schools
In district
#8 of 58
MARION
Equity
8.5 / 10
Excellent
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Ward-highlands Elementary School
Elementary School in Ocala · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
St Pauls Christian School
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Ocala Christian Academy
0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Ward-highlands Elementary School
Ward-highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ocala, FL, part of MARION. Ward-highlands Elementary School serves approximately 911 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Ward-highlands Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,391 of 3,778 schools in FL.
Structured state assessment records for Ward-highlands Elementary School show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- District avg 5.3
- FL avg 6.6
What Parents Should Know
34% of students at Ward-highlands Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Ward-highlands Elementary School — Students at Ward-highlands Elementary School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
56.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)
Based on 33 test records from FL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.1/10.
How Ward-highlands Elementary School Compares
See how Ward-highlands Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
537 SE 36TH AVE, Ocala, FL 34471
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ward-highlands Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MONTESSORI PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OCALA (rated 7.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.4/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, THE CORNERSTONE SCHOOL (rated 5.1/10, 2.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ocala, see our Ocala schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ST PAULS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ocala | 0.4 mi | — |
| OCALA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Ocala | 0.8 mi | 7.6 |
| HILLCREST Ocala | 0.8 mi | 5.6 |
| OCALA CHRISTIAN LEARNING ACADEMY INC. Ocala | 0.8 mi | 5.4 |
| OCALA ADVENTIST ACADEMY Ocala | 0.8 mi | — |
| CROSSROADS ACADEMY Ocala | 0.9 mi | 7.4 |
| MONTESSORI PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OCALA Ocala | 1.0 mi | 7.6 |
| OCALI CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Ocala | 1.3 mi | 7.6 |
| SILVER RIVER MENTORING AND INSTRUCTION Ocala | 1.5 mi | 3.3 |
| MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ocala | 1.4 mi | 6.4 |
| NEW LEAF CENTER Ocala | 1.8 mi | 5.7 |
| MARION TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Ocala | 1.8 mi | 3.1 |
| FORT KING MIDDLE SCHOOL Ocala | 2.0 mi | 3.9 |
| MARION COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMY Ocala | 2.1 mi | — |
| FIRST ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL & DAYCARE Ocala | 2.2 mi | 6.2 |
| WYOMINA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ocala | 2.4 mi | 3.0 |
| SOUTH OCALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ocala | 2.5 mi | 4.7 |
| THE CORNERSTONE SCHOOL Ocala | 2.6 mi | 5.1 |
| ST JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Ocala | 2.6 mi | 7.3 |
| FOREST HIGH SCHOOL Ocala | 2.9 mi | 5.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 34471 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$60,283
Median Home Value
$292,200
Median Rent
$1,225/mo
Population
26,031
College Educated
36.2%
Homeownership
59.3%
Avg Commute
17.3 min
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Median Age
44.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ARBOR RIDGE K-8 Orlando, FL | 7.0 |
| BERRYHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Milton, FL | 7.0 |
| BUCK LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Tallahassee, FL | 7.0 |
| CHRISTA MCAULIFFE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Bay, FL | 7.0 |
| CIMINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Valrico, FL | 7.0 |
| EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Clearwater, FL | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ward-highlands Elementary School
What grades does Ward-highlands Elementary School serve?
Ward-highlands Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Ward-highlands Elementary School?
Ward-highlands Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 911 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward-highlands Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward-highlands Elementary School is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ward-highlands Elementary School rank in FL?
Ward-highlands Elementary School ranks #1,391 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Ward-highlands Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ward-highlands Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ward-highlands Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ward-highlands Elementary School has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Ward-highlands Elementary School a charter school?
No, Ward-highlands Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ward-highlands Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Ward-highlands Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ward-highlands Elementary School?
56.2% of students at Ward-highlands Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 911
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 59
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 56.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Marion County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.4%
- Phone
- (352) 671-6810
Resources & Links
District
MARION- District Enrollment
- 45,547
- Schools in District
- 64
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,180
- District Rank
- #8 of 58
How we rate schools
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