Marion County's Magnet and Career Academy Applications Open Nov. 12, the Same Night Families Can Meet the Programs at WEC

For Marion County families weighing a magnet school or a career academy, the clock starts next Thursday. On Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, Marion County Public Schools opens its application window for school choice, magnet and Career Academy programs, and that evening it brings more than 20 of those programs under one roof at World Equestrian Center so parents and students can ask questions before they apply.

The window stays open through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027, according to the district's Oct. 26 announcement.

AI-generated illustration. Not a photo of the Marion County expo.

One night to meet the programs

The annual School Choice Magnet and Community Resource Expo runs from 5 to 7 p.m. inside Expo Center 2 at Ocala's World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482. It is free. The district says Expo Center 2 sits on the back side of the WEC grounds, with easy public access and plenty of parking.

Families can talk with faculty and students from more than 20 magnet schools and career academies about the academic and career options at every grade level, according to the district. Community resource groups will also be there to hand out materials and answer questions.

How the application works

• Window: Nov. 12, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027, for school choice, magnet and Career Academy options.


• Elementary and middle school: placements are decided by lottery.


• High school: placements are merit-based.


• How to apply: on marionschools.net, select the "School Choice" icon, then choose the option that fits.


• Getting there: the district does not provide transportation for out-of-area placements, magnet programs included.


• Capacity: the district's School Choice page says students are waitlisted once a school reaches 100% of its capacity.

Families weighing a school outside their area should factor in the transportation rule, since the district says it does not provide transportation for out-of-area placements.

Other choices on the same page

The district's School Choice page also points families to controlled open enrollment, sibling transfers, scholarship programs, charter schools, professional courtesy placements and home education. For families comparing more widely, our guides cover the best schools in Ocala, Ocali Charter School, Marion Virtual School, private schools and homeschooling in Ocala. Individual public school profiles are in our Marion County schools directory.

The expo is also on our events calendar. Next week the district's math textbook review committees also meet; see the Nov. 10 textbook committee meeting.