MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Every school year offers new information about everything school-related. This information is often shared at school orientations, giving students, parents, and families opportunities to become accustomed to their new or returning school before the school year starts.
These special “meet and greets” also offer advance notice of class schedules, bell times, teacher assignments, bus routes and stop times, extra-curricular activities, and other school-related events.
Here is a listing of orientation dates and times alphabetically by school. New students, especially kindergarten-aged children, should register now for school to avoid long lines on Monday, Aug. 11, the first day of class for students in Marion County Public Schools. (Wyomina Park Elementary students return Tuesday, July 22 because of year-round school.)
Families are encouraged to ensure their contact information is correct during these orientations and to sign up for free online Family Access at each school, giving them 24/7 access to student grades, attendance, academic, and additional information on any mobile device.
| School | Orientation Date | OrientationTimes / Grade Levels(All times AM unless indicated) |
| Anthony Elementary | Aug. 7 | 8:00 – 8:40 (PreK, K and ASD); 8:40 – 9:30 (1-5) |
| Belleview Elementary | Aug. 8 | 1:00-2:30 |
| Belleview High | Aug. 6 | 3:30PM (9th grade only);5:00PM-6:30PM (10-12) |
| Belleview Middle | Aug. 8 | 8:00-9:30(6th grade and new students only) |
| Belleview-Santos Elementary | Aug. 8 | 9:00-10:30 |
| College Park | Aug. 8 | 8:30 -9:15 and 9:15-10:30 |
| Dr. NH Jones Elementary | Aug. 8 | 12:00PM-12:45PM (VPK-2);1:00PM-1:45PM (3-5) |
| Dunnellon Elementary | Aug. 7 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Dunnellon High | July 31Aug. 7 | 9:00-12:00 (9th grade only)4:00PM-6:00PM (10-12) |
| Dunnellon Middle | Aug. 7 | 2:00PM-4:00PM |
| East Marion Elementary | Aug. 7 | 1:00PM-2:15PM |
| Eighth Street Elementary | Aug. 8 | 10:00-11:00 |
| Emerald Shores Elementary | Aug. 8 | 12:30PM-1:30 PM (PreK-K only);1:30 PM-3:00PM (1-5) |
| Fessenden Elementary | Aug. 8 | 9:00-10:00 |
| Fordham Early Learning Academy | 8/8 | 10:30-11:30 |
| Forest High | Aug. 6 -7 | 7:00-1:00(2-day Freshman Orientation) |
| Fort King Middle | Aug. 8 | 2:00PM (ESE only);5:00PM-7:30PM (new students only) |
| Fort McCoy School | Aug. 7 | 9-10:30 (K-2 and 4-8);10:30 (3rd grade only) |
| Greenway Elementary | Aug. 8 | 1:00PM-2:00PM |
| Hammett Bowen. Jr. Elementary | Aug. 8 | 1:00PM-3:00PM |
| Harbour View Elementary | Aug. 8 | 12:30PM-1:30PM |
| Hillcrest | Aug. 8 | 10:00 (new families); 11:00 (returning families) |
| Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks | Aug. 2 | 8:00-9:00 (new students only) |
| Howard Middle | Aug. 7 | 2:30PM-4:15PM(6th grade and new students only) |
| Lake Weir High | July 31Aug. 7 | 9:00-12:00 (9th grade)5:30PM-7:00PM (new students only) |
| Lake Weir Middle | Aug. 7 | 10:00-11:30 (6th grade and new students only) |
| Legacy Elementary | Aug. 8 | 10:00-11:30 |
| Liberty Middle | Aug. 7 | 1:30PM-3:00PM |
| Madison Street Academy | Aug. 7Aug. 8 | 9:00-10:30 (grades 1-5)9:00-10:30 (VPK);9:00-11:00 (K) |
| Maplewood Elementary | Aug. 7 | 9:00-10:30 |
| Marion Oaks Elementary | 8/8 | 9:00–9:30 (VPK and ESE);9:45-10:15 (K-2);10:15-10:45 (3-5) |
| Marion Technical Institute | Aug. 7Aug. 8 | 1:00PM–2:30PM (elementary)1:00PM-2:30PM (secondary) |
| North Marion High | July 31Aug. 7 | 9:00-12:00 (9th grade only);5:30PM-7:30PM(9th grade and new students only) |
| North Marion Middle | Aug. 8 | 1:00PM-2:30PM(6th grade and new students only) |
| Oakcrest Elementary | Aug. 7 | 1:00PM-2:00PM |
| Ocala Springs Elementary | Aug. 8 | 8:30-10:00 |
| Osceola Middle | Aug. 8 | 9:00-10:00 (6th grade and new students only; last names A-L);10:30-11:30 (last names M-Z) |
| Reddick-Collier Elementary | Aug. 8 | 10:00-11:30 |
| Romeo Elementary | Aug. 7 | 1:00PM-2:30PM |
| Ross Prairie Elementary | Aug. 7Aug. 8 | 1:00PM-2:00PM (VPK, K,ESE only)8:30-10:00 (last names A-L);10:30-12:00 (last names M-Z) |
| Saddlewood Elementary | Aug. 8 | 12:30PM-2:00PM |
| Shady Hill Elementary | Aug. 7 | 10:00-11:30 |
| South Ocala Elementary | Aug. 8 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Sparr Elementary | Aug. 8 | 10:00-11:30 |
| Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary | Aug. 8 | 8:30- 10:00 |
| Sunrise Elementary | Aug. 7 | 1:00PM-2:30PM |
| Vanguard High | July 31Aug. 8 | 8:30-11:00 (9th grade only)5:30PM-7:00PM (new students only) |
| Ward-Highlands Elementary | Aug. 7 | 8:45-9:15 (VPK-K only);9:30-10:15 (grades 1-2);10:30-11:15 (grades 3-5) |
| West Port High | July 31Aug. 6 | Freshman Preview 8:30-12:00(9th grade students only); 6:00PM-7:30PM(9th grade and new students only) |
| Winding Oaks Elementary | Aug. 8 | 8:00-9:00 (VPK and ESE);9:15-10:15 (K-2);10:30-11:30 (3-5) |
| Wyomina Park Elementary | July 21 | 1:00PM-3:00PM |
For more information, reach out to individual schools, check school websites at marionschools.net, or contact the Public Relations Office at 352.671.7555.