JULY 7, 2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations

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MARION COUNTY IMPROVES TO A “B” SCHOOL DISTRICT

43 of 51 Schools Maintain or Improve Annual Grades

MARION COUNTY – Grades are up in Marion County for both the district and most individual schools.

Florida’s Department of Education (FDOE) released district and school grades today.  Marion County Public Schools earned a “B” district grade – up one letter grade over last year -- with a newly-adopted and more rigorous grading scale. The district earned 57% of the total points possible, up slightly over 56% last year.

Eight schools earned “A” grades including Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary, Eighth Street Elementary, Ina A. Colen Academy (charter school), Madison Street Academy, Ward-Highlands Elementary, Belleview Middle, Osceola Middle, and Ocali Charter Middle. 

Seven additional schools improved at least one full letter grade including Ocala Springs Elementary (B), Shady Hill Elementary (B), Liberty Middle (B), Belleview High (B), Vanguard High (B), McIntosh Area (Charter) School (C), and Ocali Charter High (C).

“I am incredibly proud of the unwavering commitment of our team to consistently and strategically provide opportunities for every one of our students to thrive,” said outgoing Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett. “That is how we help every student succeed,” she added. “The improvement in our district grade reflects these efforts and validates the hard work of our entire team.”

MCPS improved or maintained scores in nine of the 12 district grade components. The largest improvement came in Social Studies (up 7% to 69%), and Middle School Acceleration (up 5% to 74%). Marion County has no failing schools; however, five schools dipped to a “D” letter grade.

School grades are based on student performance on Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (BEST) standards. After transitioning to these new standards, FDOE developed Florida’s Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), a new progress monitoring system providing teachers, students and parents immediate, real-time, and actionable data at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to drive student improvement.

            Here’s a quick rounded breakdown on this year’s school letter grades for MCPS:

• A = eight schools (16%)
• B = 10 schools (20%)
• C = 28 schools (55%)
• D = 5 schools (10%)
• F = 0 schools (0%)

            Twenty-nine other Florida school districts also earned “B” grades.

For more information contact the Public Relations Office or the Florida Department of Education at this link.

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