Ward-Highlands Elementary School Ocala (2026 List)

About Ward-Highlands Elementary School

Ward-Highlands Elementary School is located at 537 SE 36th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471. The campus serves students in prekindergarten through grade 5. Current enrollment is 911 students. The student-teacher ratio is 15:1. The student body is 55% male and 45% female. Recent state results indicate about 69% of students are proficient in math and 55% are proficient in reading. Ward-Highlands Elementary is a regular public, non-charter Marion County school with a schoolwide Title I program and an “A” school grade noted on its school information page. Its campus model fits a traditional neighborhood elementary setup in east-central Ocala, with district services layered around a large PK-5 enrollment base and a schoolwide academic support structure. Homes surrounding the campus commonly list near $349,900. For families comparing the best elementary school in Florida, Ward-Highlands Elementary stands out as an established Ocala option with solid academic results and a clearly defined local presence.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 69%

Reading 55%

State average proficiency is 69% in Math and 55% in Reading.

59

Full-time Teachers

15 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

911

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 56.31%

Asian 0.99%

Hispanic 22.5%

Black 14.27%

Two+ Races 5.6%

Native Am. 0.22%

White

56.31%

Asian

0.99%

Hispanic

22.5%

Black

14.27%

Two+ Races

5.6%

Native Am.

0.22%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 911

45.44%

414 Female

54.56%

497 Male

Student Population

911 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 15 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

455 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Ward-Highlands Elementary School Contact Information

Address

537 SE 36TH AVE, OCALA, FL 34471

View on Map

Phone

(352) 671-6810

Call Now

Website

marionk12.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:35 AM - 2:10 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:20 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Ward-Highlands Elementary School is currently featuring its Annual Family Survey in the Recent News section of the school homepage. The update encourages families to share feedback through English and Spanish survey links, giving parents a direct way to participate in school input this spring.

FAQ

Q1. What volunteer opportunities are available at Ward-Highlands Elementary School?

Ans. Ward-Highlands Elementary School encourages families to join the PTO and help with fundraising events or volunteer time during school hours.

Q2. Does Ward-Highlands Elementary School offer counseling support?

Ans. Ward-Highlands Elementary School has two guidance counselors who support students and work with families and teachers.

Q3. How can parents join school planning at Ward-Highlands Elementary School?

Ans. Ward-Highlands Elementary School invites families to take part in the School Advisory Council and review improvement planning.

Q4. What reading or academic tools does Ward-Highlands Elementary School use?

Ans. Ward-Highlands Elementary School uses SAVVAS for literacy instruction and i-Ready to target student needs.

Q5. What parent resources are available at Ward-Highlands Elementary School?

Ans. Ward-Highlands Elementary School provides Family Access tools, assessment-result links, meal support, and community resource information.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

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What Parents Say