Nicole Thornton

MARION COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) is a public school district that covers Marion County, Florida. The Central office is located in Ocala, Florida, along Interstate 75 with beaches both east and west within an hour's drive. In a community with 375,000 residents, the district serves nearly 43,000 students and is the area's largest employer with almost 7,000 team members. The district is responsible for 49 traditional schools, three charter schools, one special needs school, one adult educational school, and one virtual school -- all within 7,000,000 square feet of real estate in an area geographically larger than the state of Rhode Island. MCPS operates on a near $746 million budget, and over 87% of students graduate on time while 63% of students are eligible for free/reduced meals. The workforce is divided into 43% instructional, 54% support, and three percent administrative.