Zoning changes proposed for overcrowded schools in southwest Marion County

Liberty Middle School is shown in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. [Ocala Gazette/Photo Courtesy Thomas Fletcher]

The Marion County School Board is considering a proposal to change the zoning for several schools that are overcrowded in the southwest area of the county.

Students who attend Horizon Academy, Liberty Middle School, Sunrise Elementary School and Marion Oaks Elementary School may have the school they are zoned for change in the 2023-24 school year.

“I do want to say very clearly that this is a start,” said Superintendent Diane Gullet. “It does not address all of our localized overcrowding, but it is the beginning.”

One-hundred and eighty-four rising 5^th grade students will be rezoned from Horizon Academy, a 5th-8^th grade magnet school, to Sunrise Elementary School.

Regrouping certain grade levels will allow for students to attend school in an age-appropriate learning environment. Elementary school will include 5^th grade, rather than it being looped into middle school, which has a different classroom format and curriculum, said Stephen Ayers, director of school choice.

Two-hundred and ninety-four middle school students from Liberty Middle School will be rezoned for Horizon Academy.

To alleviate the number of 5^th grade students that Sunrise Elementary School will receive, 179 K-5^th grade students from Sunrise will be rezoned to attend Marion Oaks Elementary School.

All families affected by school rezoning will be notified by U.S. Mail, email and targeted phone calls, said Ayers.

“Any rezoning needs to take into account potential students that live in the zone, not just students that are currently attending those schools,” he said.

If the proposed zoning changes are made, then Marion Oaks Elementary School would be the only one of these schools that would need additional classroom space. If no new classroom space is added, then the school is projected to reach 113% capacity, said Ayers.

“The district is exploring the following options for that classroom space: a swing site for short term use while purchasing a modular building or constructing a permanent wing, portables for short term use while purchasing a modular building or constructing a permanent wing, or portables for long term use,” said Ayers.

These changes would bring Marion Oaks Elementary back down to 98% capacity, with a projected enrollment of 1,123.

Another public hearing will be scheduled to give the public an opportunity to offer their input to the school board on the proposal. Then, a final public hearing and vote on proposed zoning changes will take place on Feb. 28.

For information about the district, visit marionschools.net