- Enrollment
- 3,022
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ocala, FL
Ward-Highlands Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Ward-Highlands Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120126001264
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ward-Highlands Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #13 of 29
- schools in Ocala · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.5:1
- students per teacher
- 54.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ward-Highlands Elementary School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ward-Highlands Elementary School ranks #13 of 29 schools in Ocala, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-48 students YoY
Ward-Highlands Elementary School shrank from 959 students in 2022-23 to 911 in 2023-24 (-5.0%).
Teacher FTE added 55.0 → 59.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-48 students YoY 120126001264 · Ocala, FL Other · MID · TRAD
908 enr · 16.5:1 · 54.6% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: West Port High School (3,022 students)
Ward-Highlands Elementary School shrank from 959 students in 2022-23 to 911 in 2023-24 (-5.0%). Teacher FTE added 55.0 → 59.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Ward-Highlands Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Port High
West Port High School
3,022 students
- Forest High Sc
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
- This school 908
Ward-Highlands Elementary School
908 students
What this shows Ward-Highlands Elementary School reports 908 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ward-Highlands Elementary School compares
Ward-Highlands Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.5:1 | ▼ 7% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.6% | ▲ 5% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 908 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.5:1
Leaner classes than 34% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
908
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.5:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 50% in Florida - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.4%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 454 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 65 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.1%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
African American 14.3%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 53.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.2, Ward-Highlands Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
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 Ward-Highlands Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Port High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belleview High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vanguard High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belleview Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ward-Highlands Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,387
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- 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
Nationwide other 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 (~908 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ward-Highlands Elementary School
How many students attend Ward-Highlands Elementary School?
Ward-Highlands Elementary School has 908 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ocala, FL. CCD year-over-year: 959 (2022-23) → 911 (2023-24), down 48.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward-Highlands Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward-Highlands Elementary School is 16.5:1, which is 7% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 5% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ward-Highlands Elementary School?
54.6% of students at Ward-Highlands Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ward-Highlands Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Ward-Highlands Elementary School is White at 53.1% of enrollment, in Ocala, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ward-Highlands Elementary School?
Ward-Highlands Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Ward-Highlands Elementary School rank among schools in Ocala?
By Resource Investment Index, Ward-Highlands Elementary School ranks #13 of 29 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 schools in Ocala on the city page.
What other schools are in Marion?
Besides Ward-Highlands Elementary School, Marion also operates West Port High School (3,022 students), Forest High School (2,387 students), and Belleview High School (1,904 students). See the Marion district page for the complete list.