The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts sits in the northwest corner of Ocala's historic downtown neighborhood, a few blocks from the Marion County Courthouse and the civic district that anchors city life. The school serves children from pre-K through fifth grade and is a regular public school within Marion County Public Schools, not a charter.
The arts integration identity is the defining characteristic here. The school's name signals a purpose-built environment rather than a general elementary assignment, and families who choose it are typically drawn by an approach that weaves visual and performing arts into the school day. Program details were not available in the data we reviewed, so a parent interested in the specifics of how arts are embedded in instruction, what performances or exhibitions look like, and how arts specialists are staffed should ask the school directly.
What the academic data does show is genuinely strong. On Florida's FAST assessments in the most recent school year, third through fifth graders performed well above what you might expect for a neighborhood elementary in a fast-growing, mixed-income city. Reading proficiency across tested grades was consistently well above three-quarters of students, with third grade results among the highest in the building. Math followed a similar pattern, with fourth graders showing particularly strong results. The fifth-grade science assessment, which is the only grade tested for that subject, also came back well above the statewide picture would suggest for a school with this demographic profile. These are real strengths, and parents should feel confident treating them as such, not as statistical noise.
The student body is racially mixed, with white students forming the largest group, followed by Hispanic and Black students, along with meaningful multiracial representation. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is below the majority, meaning this school is moderately but not heavily concentrated poverty relative to many Florida elementaries. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not reported in what we received, so parents of children who might need those services should ask the school for specifics.
Housing near the school reflects the broader Ocala market, which is notably more affordable than the Florida statewide average. Home values in this zip code have edged slightly downward year over year, and rents are at a level where a renter's housing cost stays well below the threshold most financial planners flag as a stress point. For families comparing Ocala to other Florida metros, the cost picture is meaningfully different, and that gap appears durable given how rapidly the metro is growing. The Ocala metro has, publicly reported, been among the fastest-growing in the country, with new residents arriving steadily each week and housing construction running at a high clip across Marion County.
That growth context matters for school planning too. Marion County voters in November 2024 approved a new half-cent sales tax, dedicated to school capital needs, that will fund new schools and additions over a multi-year span. The district, publicly reported, has identified a need for several new schools and a larger number of building wings to keep pace with enrollment growth. Separately, a one-mill property tax for operating expenses, including arts, music, PE, library, and vocational programs, was renewed by voters in 2022 and runs through mid-2027. Both of these funding decisions are directly relevant to families thinking about where Marion County schools are headed, and to homeowners factoring local taxes into a purchase decision.
Madison Street Academy's downtown location means families are close to the walkable historic square, the public library system's main branch, and the SunTran bus network. Outside that core, Ocala is largely car-oriented, with suburban corridors and equestrian land extending in most directions.
A graduation rate does not apply here, as the school ends at fifth grade. Comparison metrics against other Marion County districts were not produced because there is only one district in the county, so no meaningful peer ranking could be constructed.
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