Marion officials break ground on new $154 million high school in south Ocala

Marion County officials broke ground this week at the site of a new, $154 million high school that will be built in south Ocala in time for the 2026 school year.

On Monday, Marion County Public Schools broke ground on High School “CCC,” which is the first high school to be built in the county since 2003.

High School CCC will be located at 1350 SW 165th Street in Ocala and is strategically situated to accommodate the growing student population in southwest Marion County.

The site is approximately 21 miles east of Dunnellon High School, around 17 miles south of West Port High School, and about 12 miles west of Belleview High School.

On Monday, members of the Marion County School Board and Marion County Board of County Commissioners shared comments about the new high school before moving dirt at the 115-acre site.

When complete, the new school will feature three building complexes, 61 classrooms, and 20 labs.

Plans also call for the construction of a 2,000-seat athletic stadium for football, a 1,332-seat gymnasium, an 858-seat cafeteria, an 800-seat performing arts auditorium, 867 parking spaces, and several playing fields for other sports.

According to a statement provided by the school district, construction of the school is anticipated to cost approximately $154,000,000.

The new school is anticipated to open in August 2026 and will have capacity for over 2,000 students. That capacity will increase to over 2,700 students following the completion of a third floor at the facility.

The project is being managed by Wharton-Smith, Inc., which was contracted by the Marion County School Board earlier this year. In August, the company invited subcontractors to bid on various portions of the project.

Clearing, mass grading, and early procurement of equipment were all scheduled to take place in November, according to records.

The main bid package, which will include the remaining site work and buildings, is tentatively scheduled to bid in late January 2025.

The school district borrowed funds to build the high school and two additional elementary schools that are currently under construction in southwest Ocala.

Brisk progress has been made at the site of both elementary schools, where classes are scheduled to begin in August 2025.

According to records, principal construction of the new high school is projected to begin in April 2025 and should be complete by July 2026.