A new high school that will open to students in south Ocala next August has secured approximately $260,000 in funding to offer specialized programs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), avionics, digital cinema productions, entrepreneurship, and agribusiness.
On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Education announced that South Marion High School (SMHS) was among 49 projects statewide who will receive a total of $40 million in funding through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program, which refocuses dollars into in-demand industries.
The Florida Department of Education administers the state’s Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program, which provides funding to help school districts and colleges launch or expand career and technical education programs tied to high-demand industries.
The money is used for equipment, supplies, and other expenses that allow students to train for industry certifications and obtain jobs in fields such as healthcare, technology, and various trades. The initiative is designed to strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline and support local and statewide economic growth by broadening access to hands-on training, according to FDOE.
Under the program, SMHS will receive $259,635 to offer an AI program to students when it opens at 1350 SW 165th Street next summer.
“Already, before students even set foot on campus, SMHS is capturing funds for its academic programs, including one from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) worth nearly $260,000,” reads a portion of a press release shared by Marion County Public Schools.
MCPS and FDOE say the $259,635 grant will help build a highly-skilled workforce by “equipping students with skills needed to excel in Florida’s priority industries including hands-on training in high-demand industries.”
When the new high school opens in August, SMHS will offer specialized programs in AI, avionics, digital cinema productions, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and other related areas.
The district broke ground at the 115-acre site of South Marion High last December. Earlier this year, the name was selected for the 363,000-square-foot facility, which will feature 61 classrooms and 20 labs. It is being built for 2,011 students and will have build-out options to accommodate up to 2,711 students.
According to MCPS, the campus will feature three-story construction in its main building and two classroom wings flanking the main building. There will be space for 61 classrooms, 20 labs, and the school will be able to serve approximately 2,711 students with complete build out. It is being built to open in 2026 to approximately 2,011 students.