Marion County officials broke ground on two new elementary schools in Ocala on Thursday.
Marion County Public Schools hosted two ground-breaking ceremonies on March 21 for the schools, which are scheduled to open in August 2025 and admit students during the 2025-2026 school year.
The first ceremony took place at 14320 SW 70 Avenue Road for “New Elementary School W.” That school will be built by the A.D. Morgan Corporation and will serve the Marion Oaks community upon completion.
The second ground-breaking ceremony was for “New Elementary School X,” which is being constructed at 7200 SW 49 Avenue Road. That site is located in the Winding Oaks community, which received approval during Tuesday’s Ocala City Council meeting. “New Elementary School X” is being built by Ausley Construction.
According to the district, both schools are being built in response to the “growing student populations” in southwest Marion County.
The schools have not yet been named, instead being referred to as “New Elementary School W” and “New Elementary School X,” by the district.
Each two-story school building will be 115,000 square feet and will be constructed out of concrete.
The facilities will feature minimal entry points and offices for administrative staff on the first floor. The media center for each school will be located on the second floor.
According to district officials, each school will feature 43 classrooms that will serve up to 860 students. The budget for each school is $47 million, or $94 million for both. The district borrowed the funds to build the schools, as well as an additional high school in southwest Marion County.