Top Rankings
Marion School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Florida for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public middle schools serving 11,913 students in Marion School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Florida.
Public Middle Schools in Marion School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
65 Schools
1,745 Schools
# Students
45,568 Students
1,042,011 Students
# Teachers
2,385 Teachers
54,708 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
District Rank
Marion School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 83% has increased from 78% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#59 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
52%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
52%
Graduation Rate
83%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.69
0.70
# American Indian Students
145 Students
2,890 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
812 Students
29,883 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%
# Hispanic Students
13,546 Students
401,138 Students
% Hispanic Students
30%
38%
# Black Students
8,921 Students
215,725 Students
% Black Students
20%
21%
# White Students
19,590 Students
349,085 Students
% White Students
43%
34%
# Hawaiian Students
99 Students
1,862 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
2,455 Students
41,428 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,107
6,785
# Students in K Grade:
3,139
37,786
# Students in 1st Grade:
3,316
39,534
# Students in 2nd Grade:
3,507
40,863
# Students in 3rd Grade:
3,732
42,129
# Students in 4th Grade:
3,417
42,303
# Students in 5th Grade:
3,263
42,249
# Students in 6th Grade:
3,055
201,326
# Students in 7th Grade:
3,611
223,117
# Students in 8th Grade:
3,600
218,377
# Students in 9th Grade:
3,603
37,509
# Students in 10th Grade:
3,687
38,273
# Students in 11th Grade:
3,282
34,944
# Students in 12th Grade:
3,249
36,816
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,297 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,962. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,062 is less than the state median of $11,615. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$469 MM
$34,349 MM
Spending
$459 MM
$33,354 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,297
$11,962
Spending / Student
$10,062
$11,615
Best Marion School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Osceola Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
526 Se Tuscawilla Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-7100
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-7100
Grades: 6-8
| 915 students
Rank: #22.
Marion Virtual Franchise
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1614 E Fort King St
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-6892
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-6892
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: #33.
Belleview Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10500 Se 36th Ave
Belleview, FL 34420
(352) 671-6235
Belleview, FL 34420
(352) 671-6235
Grades: 6-8
| 1,541 students
Rank: #44.
Howard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1655 Nw 10th St
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 671-7225
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 671-7225
Grades: 6-8
| 891 students
Rank: #55.
Dunnellon Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
21005 Chestnut St
Dunnellon, FL 34431
(352) 465-6720
Dunnellon, FL 34431
(352) 465-6720
Grades: 6-8
| 709 students
Rank: #66.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4773 Sw 95th St
Ocala, FL 34476
(352) 291-7930
Ocala, FL 34476
(352) 291-7930
Grades: 6-8
| 1,184 students
Rank: #77.
Pace Center For Girls Inc.
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
328 Ne 1st Ave, Ste 500
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 369-0571
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 369-0571
Grades: 6-12
| 38 students
Rank: #88.
Fort King Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
545 Ne 17th Ave
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 671-4725
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 671-4725
Grades: 6-8
| 993 students
Rank: #99.
Marion Youth Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
10420 Nw Gainesville Rd
Lowell, FL 32663
(352) 840-8255
Lowell, FL 32663
(352) 840-8255
Grades: 7-12
| 21 students
Rank: #1010.
Fort Mccoy School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
16160 Ne Highway 315
Fort Mc Coy, FL 32134
(352) 671-6325
Fort Mc Coy, FL 32134
(352) 671-6325
Grades: PK-8
| 940 students
Rank: #1111.
North Marion Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2085 W Highway 329
Citra, FL 32113
(352) 671-6035
Citra, FL 32113
(352) 671-6035
Grades: 6-8
| 772 students
Rank: #1212.
Horizon Academy At Marion Oaks
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
365 Marion Oaks Dr
Ocala, FL 34473
(352) 671-6290
Ocala, FL 34473
(352) 671-6290
Grades: 6-8
| 1,112 students
Rank: #1313.
Ocali Charter Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3233 Se Maricamp Rd, Ste 106
Ocala, FL 34478
(352) 264-9940
Ocala, FL 34478
(352) 264-9940
Grades: 6-8
| 194 students
Rank: #1414.
Lake Weir Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
10220 Se Sunset Harbor Rd
Summerfield, FL 34491
(352) 671-6120
Summerfield, FL 34491
(352) 671-6120
Grades: 6-8
| 1,101 students
Rank: #1515.
Marion Technical Institute
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1614 E Fort King St
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-4765
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-4765
Grades: 8-12
| 111 students
Rank: #1616.
New Leaf Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1601 Ne 25th Ave, Ste 602
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 245-3586
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 245-3586
Grades: K-12
| 123 students
Rank: #1717.
Silver River Mentoring And Instruction
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2500 Se 44th Ct
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 694-0191
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 694-0191
Grades: 6-12
| 186 students
Rank: #1818.
Hillcrest
Special Education School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3143 Se 17th St
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-6800
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 671-6800
Grades: 6-12
| 161 students
Rank: n/an/a
Ina A.colen Academy
Charter School
5080 Sw 66th Ct. Rd.
Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 304-6787
Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 304-6787
Grades: K-8
| 435 students
Rank: n/an/a
Marion County Acceleration Academy
Alternative School
1515 E Silver Springs Blvd, Un
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 329-2799
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 329-2799
Grades: 7-12
| 341 students
Rank: n/an/a
Marion Reg. Juvenile Detention Center
Alternative School
3040 Nw 10th St
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 732-1450
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 732-1450
Grades: 6-12
| 63 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mcso Adults
Alternative School
700 Nw 30th Ave
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 732-1450
Ocala, FL 34475
(352) 732-1450
Grades: 8-12
| 14 students
Rank: n/an/a
Ocala Center For Success And Independence
Alternative School
4055 Nw 105th St
Ocala, FL 34482
(352) 671-2777
Ocala, FL 34482
(352) 671-2777
Grades: 7-12
| 68 students
Recent Articles
Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.
How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
