Summary:
In zip code 34475 (Ocala, FL), there are two elementary schools serving students from Pre-K through 5th grade, both part of the Marion County school district, which is ranked 63rd out of 70 districts in Florida.
The standout school in this area is Madison Street Academy Of Visual And Performing Arts, a magnet school that consistently ranks in the top 6% of all elementary schools in Florida. In the 2025-2026 school year, it ranked 52nd out of 2,240 schools (98th percentile), with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math ranging from 83% to 91%—far exceeding district and state averages. The school also boasts an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 5.0%, compared to the district's 35.2% and the state's 31.4%. In contrast, Fordham Early Learning Academy serves only Pre-K through 2nd grade and does not have standardized test scores or a state ranking. Fordham has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (40.47%) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.8%, which is better than the district average but significantly higher than Madison Street's.
The data reveals a stark contrast between the two schools in the same zip code. Madison Street Academy proves that a focused magnet program can achieve elite academic results even within a low-performing district, with consistent year-over-year excellence and strong student engagement. Fordham Early Learning Academy, while lacking test data, serves a younger population and faces higher poverty levels. For parents, this means that school choice and specialized programs can create vastly different educational outcomes within a small geographic area, with Madison Street Academy being a clear top performer for elementary education in 34475.
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