The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Anthony Elementary School
Anthony Elementary sits on Jacksonville Road in the small, rural, unincorporated community of Anthony, about ten miles northeast of Ocala in northeastern Marion County. The federal locale classification is Rural, Fringe, which fits: this is open horse-country, not a suburb. Single-family homes, ranches, and equestrian parcels are the texture of the surrounding neighborhood, and there is no walkable commercial center. The community's civic life orbits a handful of anchors, including the school itself, Anthony Community Park, and the adjacent Anthony Woman's Club. Families who need specialty retail or healthcare drive toward Ocala.
The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this squarely in the higher-need range for an elementary. The student body is racially and ethnically mixed, with white, Black, and Hispanic students each representing meaningful portions of enrollment, plus a small share of students identifying as two or more races. Data on English learner rates and the share of students with IEPs were not available in the information provided.
On Florida's statewide assessments, the picture warrants a close look. Math results are the relatively stronger area: third-grade math proficiency is above the majority-of-students threshold, and fourth and fifth-grade math, while below that threshold, are not far behind. Reading tells a more concerning story. ELA proficiency rates in third, fourth, and fifth grade all sit well below half of students reaching the proficient mark, with fifth grade the lowest. Science, tested at fifth grade, is also below half. These are areas a parent would reasonably want to ask the school about directly, including what interventions or supports are in place for students who are not yet reading at grade level. Trend data across years was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data whether the school is moving in a positive or negative direction.
Year-to-year trend comparisons are not possible from the available data, and the comparison framework for Marion County consists of only a single district, so a relative ranking among county peers is not meaningful and was not computed.
On the community and housing side, home values in the Anthony zip code are close to both the Florida statewide median and the national median as of mid-2026, though values have dipped modestly year over year while the national trend has moved slightly upward. Florida's state median has also softened somewhat. Rent-to-income estimates suggest housing in this area carries a manageable cost burden relative to typical incomes. No rental index data was available for this specific zip code.
Two district-level financial decisions are relevant for families weighing Marion County schools. In late 2024, voters approved a new half-cent sales tax dedicated to school capital needs, publicly reported to fund roughly five new schools and nine new building wings across the district over the coming years in response to rapid enrollment growth in the county. This matters for property owners and households because it affects both the local sales tax rate and the pace at which facilities will be built or renovated. Separately, in 2022, voters renewed a one-mill property tax for operating expenses that runs through mid-2027, publicly reported to fund school safety, teacher and staff retention, class-size compliance, and programs including art, music, PE, library services, and vocational education. Both measures reflect a district that is actively investing in capacity, though the academic performance data here suggests that investment context is worth keeping in mind alongside the proficiency picture.
Students from Anthony continue to North Marion Middle School and North Marion High School, both located in nearby Citra, so the K-5 years at Anthony Elementary are the start of a longer Marion County pathway rather than a standalone experience.
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