Marion County School Board members will vote this week on the names of two new elementary schools that are scheduled to open in Ocala later this year.
The board will discuss the proposed names for New Elementary Schools “W” and “X” during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
According to the district staff report, the name sought for Elementary School “W” is Ross Prairie Elementary School and the name sought for “X” is Winding Oaks Elementary School.
The names were selected by naming committees chosen by each school’s principal. Naming committee were comprised of parents, staff, and members of the community.
The district says it developed public surveys and collected feedback from February 18 to March 14. After that period, the principals met with the naming committees to review the top school names and make a recommendation for board approval.
The survey results were discussed at a board work session on April 3, 2025, according to the district.
“New Elementary School X” is under construction at 7200 SW 49th Avenue Road in Ocala, while “New Elementary School W” is being developed at 14320 SW 70th Avenue Road.
Both schools are scheduled to admit students for the 2025-2026 academic school year.
School officials broke ground on both elementary schools last March.
In November, the board approved attendance boundaries for the schools. Multiple schools in Belleview and Ocala will be impacted by the new boundaries.
To check a school’s new attendance boundary, visit the Marion County Public Schools Locator.
New Elementary School “X” is situated within the Winding Oaks community, just down the road from Marion Ranch, a new residential development.
Both schools are two-story, 115,000-square-foot, concrete buildings with 43 classrooms and room to serve up to 860 students, according to MCPS.
Both schools are being built in response to the “growing student populations” in southwest Marion County, according to school officials.
The Marion County School Board meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 1614 E Fort King Street at 5:30 p.m.