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Ward-Highlands Elementary School

Q: Is Ward-Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Ward-Highlands Elementary School ranks 614 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

614^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Ward-Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 911 students in grades PK-5 in Ocala, Florida, which is part of the Marion School District. Over the past several years, Ward-Highlands has seen its statewide ranking fluctuate, ranging from 614 out of 2,258 Florida elementary schools in 2024-2025 (4-star rating) to 1,194 out of 2,182 in 2018-2019 (2-star rating).

Ward-Highlands consistently outperforms the Marion district and the state of Florida in standardized test scores across grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, 67% of 3rd graders at Ward-Highlands were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 45% in the district and 57% statewide. However, the school has had relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.5% to 35.3% over the past few years, which is notably higher than the state average. Additionally, Ward-Highlands has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 55.97% to 59.12% over the past few years, suggesting a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

When compared to nearby schools, Ward-Highlands stands out as a relatively high-performing school. For instance, Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary, both magnet schools, have significantly higher test scores and statewide rankings than Ward-Highlands. However, these schools also have lower percentages of students receiving free/reduced lunch, suggesting a more advantaged student population.

908

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,215

Per pupil spending ?

53.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

537 SE 36th Ave
Ocala, FL 34471

(352) 671-6810

District: Marion

Students who attend Ward-Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Fort King Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.1%

Hispanic:

24.8%

African American:

14.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Ward-Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 70th percentile in 2014 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (67% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Marion

✓Above the Florida median (73rd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg48%

Florida avg58%

614^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to top 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 32Elementary Schools in the Marion

62^nd of 67Marion among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	614 of 2258	72.8%	★★★★☆
2024	67.3	692 of 2256	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.8	745 of 2240	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.9	832 of 2219	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.8	838 of 2247	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.3	1194 of 2182	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.4	1045 of 2118	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.4	720 of 2112	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.7	765 of 2087	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.2	624 of 2064	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.5	697 of 2029	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.5	812 of 1984	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.0	880 of 1985	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.1	772 of 1919	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	65.9	637 of 1847	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.5	598 of 1789	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.5	545 of 1786	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.0	642 of 1688	62.0%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math73%+12 vs state

English Language Arts63%+7 vs state

Science57%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Ward-Highlands Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)			FAST Math (2025)			Statewide Science Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ward-Highlands Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	537 SE 36th Ave	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-6810	908	60	15.1	53.6%	482 (53.1%)	130 (14.3%)	225 (24.8%)	11 (1.2%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (6.2%)	70.8	614^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.8%		67.3	692^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	69.3%	78	67.0	63.0	59.0	75.0	76.0	68.0	57.0	$12,215	$1,264	$10,952
Maplewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4751 SE 24th St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-6820	819	62	13.2	57.4%	399 (48.7%)	168 (20.5%)	197 (24.1%)	10 (1.2%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.0%)	54.3	1009^th of 2258 public elementary schools	55.3%		53	1018^th of 2256 public elementary schools	54.9%	9	50.0	61.0	59.0	61.0	73.0	61.0	47.0	$15,538	$2,418	$13,120
Student Services/Ese	Public	K-8	1614 E Fort King St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(352) 671-6832	7	0			3 (42.9%)	3 (42.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)								(n/a)
Marion Elearning	Public, Virtual	K-5	1614 E Ft King St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	Yes	No	(352) 236-0570	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Wyomina Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	511 NE 12th Ave	Ocala	34470	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-6370	502	31	16.1	83.7%	129 (25.7%)	201 (40.0%)	123 (24.5%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.8%)	8.3	2181^st of 2258 public elementary schools	3.4%		11.3	2120^th of 2256 public elementary schools	6.0%	61	25.0	38.0	35.0	23.0	34.0	30.0	30.0	$13,703	$1,899	$11,804
South Ocala Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1430 SE 24th Rd	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-4750	712	47	15.1	68.5%	256 (36.0%)	231 (32.4%)	169 (23.7%)	9 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.5%)	22.8	1829^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.0%		28.7	1657^th of 2256 public elementary schools	26.6%	172	36.0	46.0	48.0	40.0	53.0	42.0	33.0	$13,469	$1,344	$12,126
Eighth Street Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	513 SE 8th St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 671-7125	381	26	14.6	29.9%	265 (69.6%)	50 (13.1%)	48 (12.6%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.9%)	84.3	309^th of 2258 public elementary schools	86.3%		90.5	159^th of 2256 public elementary schools	93.0%	150	79.0	66.0	69.0	84.0	71.0	87.0	73.0	$13,125	$744	$12,381
Oakcrest Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1112 NE 28th St	Ocala	34470	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 671-6350	631	32	19.7	83.7%	151 (23.9%)	311 (49.3%)	120 (19.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (7.3%)	7.7	2186^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.2%		9.5	2162^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	4.2%	24	30.0	33.0	24.0	46.0	32.0	18.0	16.0	$12,582	$1,862	$10,720
Madison Street Academy Of Visual And Performing Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	401 NW Martin Luther King Jr	Ocala	34475	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 671-7250	467	34	13.7	30.8%	275 (58.9%)	71 (15.2%)	82 (17.6%)	8 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.4%)	90.9	136^th of 2258 public elementary schools	94.0%		93.3	84^th of 2256 public elementary schools	96.3%	52	84.0	76.0	83.0	78.0	88.0	77.0	81.0	$13,295	$1,085	$12,209
Dr N H Jones Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1900 SW 5th St	Ocala	34471	Marion County	Marion	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 671-7260	789	52	15.1	42.1%	261 (33.1%)	224 (28.4%)	177 (22.4%)	75 (9.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (6.5%)	90.5	157^th of 2258 public elementary schools	93.0%		86.9	259^th of 2256 public elementary schools	88.5%	102	79.0	78.0	81.0	82.0	78.0	82.0	84.0	$11,444	$602	$10,841

Frequently Asked Questions about Ward-Highlands Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Ward-Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Ward-Highlands Elementary School are 53% White, 25% Hispanic, 14% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Ward-Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 908 students attended Ward-Highlands Elementary School.

Is Ward-Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Ward-Highlands Elementary School ranks 614^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Ward-Highlands Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ward-Highlands Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Fort King Middle School

What district is Ward-Highlands Elementary School in?

Marion

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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.