- Enrollment
- 3,022
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Ocala, FL
Forest High School
Federal NCES profile for Forest High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 120126001271
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Florida schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Florida.
- #1 of 4
- high schools in Ocala · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.1:1
- large classes for Florida
- 41.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest High School has class sizes larger than 92% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest High School ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Ocala, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+58 students YoY
Forest High School held near 2,383 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+58 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 95.0 → 101.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+58 students YoY 120126001271 · Ocala, FL High · LARGE · TRAD
2,387 enr · 25.1:1 · 41.9% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: West Port High School (3,022 students)
Forest High School held near 2,383 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+58 headcount). Teacher FTE added 95.0 → 101.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Forest High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Port High
West Port High School
3,022 students
- This school
Forest High School
2,387 students
- Belleview High
Belleview High School
1,904 students
- Vanguard High
Vanguard High School
1,684 students
- Belleview Midd
Belleview Middle School
1,600 students
- Dunnellon High
Dunnellon High School
1,562 students
What this shows Forest High School reports 2,387 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest High School compares
Forest High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.1:1 | ▲ 41% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.9% | ▼ 19% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,387 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.1:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,387
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.1:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 92% in Florida - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
25.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,180
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 398 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
415
in-school suspensions + 187 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 53.5%
Hispanic or Latino 22.2%
African American 16.7%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 53.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.4, Forest High School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Marion reports $11,180 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Port High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belleview High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vanguard High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belleview Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dunnellon High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,904
- Students per teacher
- 26.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,684
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,562
- Students per teacher
- 30:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~2,387 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest High School
How many students attend Forest High School?
Forest High School has 2,387 students enrolled. It is a high school in Ocala, FL. CCD year-over-year: 2,325 (2022-23) → 2,383 (2023-24), nearly flat (+58).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest High School is 25.1:1, which is 41% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 60% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Forest High School?
41.9% of students at Forest High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest High School?
The largest demographic group at Forest High School is White at 53.5% of enrollment, in Ocala, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest High School?
Forest High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Forest High School rank among high schools in Ocala?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest High School ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Ocala, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Ocala on the city page.
What other schools are in Marion?
Besides Forest High School, Marion also operates West Port High School (3,022 students), Belleview High School (1,904 students), and Vanguard High School (1,684 students). See the Marion district page for the complete list.