WARD-HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

959 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Ward-Highlands Elementary School, located in Ocala, Florida, is a public school serving students in Marion County. As part of the Marion County Public Schools district, the school focuses on providing a foundational academic curriculum designed to foster student growth in core subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science. The school is committed to creating a supportive learning environment that encourages both academic achievement and the development of essential social skills, preparing its young students for future success in middle school and beyond.

Beyond its academic offerings, Ward-Highlands emphasizes community involvement and the importance of a collaborative partnership between families, teachers, and staff. The school frequently engages with its surrounding neighborhood to provide a comprehensive educational experience that includes extracurricular opportunities and character-building initiatives. By maintaining a focus on individual student needs and high educational standards, the school serves as a central hub for childhood development in the Ocala area.

959

Total Students

55.0

Full-Time Teachers

17.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

50.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for WARD-HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	536
Hispanic	206
Black	152
Asian	11
Two or More	51
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
536 (55.9 %)
Hispanic
206 (21.5 %)
Black
152 (15.8 %)
Two or More
51 (5.3 %)
Asian
11 (1.1 %)
American Indian
2 (0.2 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	MARION
Phone:	(352)671-6810
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	959
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	55.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	451
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	36

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 36

Kindergarten 153

Grade 1 157

Grade 2 156

Grade 3 171

Grade 4 148

Grade 5 138

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for WARD-HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	36
Kindergarten	153
Grade 1	157
Grade 2	156
Grade 3	171
Grade 4	148
Grade 5	138

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for WARD-HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	440	45.9%
Male	519	54.1%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)