Summary:
In zip code 34470, Ocala, Florida, there are two elementary schools serving grades PK-5: Oakcrest Elementary School and Wyomina Park Elementary School, both part of the Marion County school district, which ranks in the bottom 10th percentile statewide.
Oakcrest Elementary School is the standout performer in this area, with a state ranking in the 21st percentile for 2025-2026, compared to Wyomina Park Elementary School's 7th percentile. Oakcrest also showed a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 3rd percentile the previous year, with significant gains in 4th Grade ELA (33% to 53%) and 5th Grade Science (16% to 52%). Despite serving an equally high-poverty community (both schools have about 83.7% free/reduced lunch eligibility), Oakcrest outperforms Wyomina Park in most academic subjects, with an average proficiency of 47.9% versus 40.4%. Interestingly, Wyomina Park spends $1,121 more per student ($13,703 vs. $12,582) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (16.1 vs. 19.7), yet achieves lower overall test scores, suggesting resource allocation and instructional effectiveness may be key factors.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical, systemic issue for both schools, far exceeding district and state averages. Wyomina Park has a staggering 50.8% chronic absenteeism rate, while Oakcrest's rate is 43.1%, both well above the district average of 35.2%. This likely drives the low academic performance. Wyomina Park does show a specific strength in 5th Grade Math (43% proficiency), which is closer to the district average (54%) than its other subjects, offering a potential foundation for improvement. Overall, while both schools face significant challenges, Oakcrest's recent gains and higher ranking make it the stronger choice in this zip code.
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