Meetings scheduled to address school zoning changes in SW Marion

Construction of the new elementary school by Ausley Construction is shown at Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Students and families in southwest Marion County may be impacted by zoning changes related to the future opening of two new elementary schools.

Construction began on the two new elementary schools in March, with an anticipated opening in August 2025. The schools, one in Marion Oaks and the other in Winding Oaks, are identical and will each house up to 860 students.

Marion County Public Schools is holding two community meetings to discuss rezoning information. The first will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 in the cafeteria of Sunrise Elementary School, 375 Marion Oaks Course, Ocala. The second will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 16 in the cafeteria of Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School, 4397 SW 95 St., Ocala.

“MCPS district staff will provide information on attendance boundaries for the new schools, rezoning plans, curriculum programs, transportation options and other details pertinent to both schools opening to address growth in the Southwest Marion County area. Artist renderings of both schools will also be shared,” according to MCPS.

Both meetings will present the same information. Parents and families are invited to attend, ask questions to staff and provide feedback and input.

In addition to districtwide Skylert messaging, families directly impacted by rezoning will also receive additional messaging from their child’s school. For more information about these public meetings, contact the Student Assignment and Records Office at (352) 671-7700.

The schools will each have 43 classrooms. Both schools will have one two-story building made of concrete block construction and have minimal entry points for enhanced security. The facilities will each be 115,000 square feet.

Both schools are expected to cost $43 million each. The site of Elementary School “X” is 7200 SW 49^th Avenue Road, and Elementary School “W” is at 14320 SW 70^th Avenue Road in Marion Oaks.

A major new development is in the works near the site of Elementary School “X” after the Ocala City Council approved the creation of a development district earlier this year of 460 acres of a former farm. Developer Kimley-Horn plans to build nearly 1,700 single-family homes on the land.

As of June, the Ocala/Marion County area is the fourth fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country and the ninth fastest-growing county in the country. With 269 people moving to the area each week, the age demographics of the people moving here are trending younger, which is expected to increase the student population in Marion County greatly, said Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership President and CEO Kevin Sheilley.