Moving to Ocala area (Orlando, Gainesville: cliquey, crime rate, home)

[Sweetmalibu]

Hi everyone! My family and I are looking to move to the Ocala area very soon. My husband will be working in Newberry but we thought maybe Newberry may be too far out for us so we were thinking of Ocala. I drove through the Gainesville area but don't think it's for us. We have 3 children. Aged 6, 4 and infant. I am very stressed about where they will be going to school and which areas of Ocala to live and to stay away from. We are used to our little east coast town and our kids love their schools here so, it is a top priority for us. Can anyone please help us with this? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[yoly]

I am not really sure why I have to be the bearer of bad news again but here it is:

"Bad things can happen anywhere but this just happened in Ocala, Marion County, Florida
Boy, 10, Charged With Manslaughter in Young Cousin's Death - ABC News

Bill O'Reilly taught in Ocala and called it a "crack capital". Wow! Search "Cyberbaiting: Students pushing teachers to meltdown?" on | Fox News

There is a maximum security prison in Ocala. I would stay away from that area because it's run down.

I worked at the Juvenile detention center and it's a mess there. It's too easy for kids to end up in juvenile detention centers in Ocala. Zero tolerance and discrimination and all that... I saw blatant racism in the middle school where I worked. It's very BLACK and WHITE, which I don't like. A search of the metaphor "school to prison pipeline" may give you an idea what life can be for some school kids in Marion County. That metaphor has been criticized as it is not so much a "pipeline" but a "a system or web". So, I wouldn't live or work there."

I also worked at the Home Schooling Department for Marion Dept of Education and many parents chose to home school their kids "because of the violence in schools". Granted I was only a teacher in Ocala for two years so I don't know EVERYTHING about it, but what I saw didn't leave me feeling very good about it.

The worst thing I can say is that a study done on BEST PLACES for RAISING CHILDREN, two years in a row, has rated OCALA, Florida DEAD LAST ... https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-best-places-for-children-in-2016

So why can't you live in Newberry?

[Sasha's]

Just a comment: as recently as two weeks ago there was a national 'best places to live'. (Not correct title of article but I do not know correct name). Of all the states and cities, Florida state came in dead last as a state AND, Ocala came in DEADE LAST FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN!!! Things to do and poor education was key in the report. I live in Ocala now and agree wholeheartedly. The crime here in 18 months has become noticeably more violent. More frequent. A spread from Orlando. Even the Chief of Police was fired a few months ago for corruption! There are wonderful areas outside the city limits of Gainesville. The education is far superior than Marion county. I spent much time in Gainesville last year- I will be moving there as soon as possible, to a rural part of Gainesville. Driving from Ocala to Gainesville daily for school or work is not fun. I75 is a horribly unsafe trucking route plus commuting?? drivers. Choose wisely. I did not, because I was not aware/informed. Ocala is prettier, but that does not help education, nor crime. I have also had a terrible time with crooked contracting jobs. Even my neighbors say this is a difficult place to live, and very difficult to find honest people.

[dudenamedric]

Ocala isn't all bad. I agree that the crime rate has been steadily rising for the last decade or so, but there's decent areas to live and decent schools to attend. That being said, though, I won't recommend Ocala strictly because of the commute to Newberry. That is a horrible drive up 27, which I would recommend instead of 75 because 75 really does suck. It seems like EVERY.SINGLE.TIME it rains there's at least one accident that holds up traffic. I'd recommend Newberry to live, personally. It's nice and rural, and close enough to Gainesville that you can visit there but not have to live there. I'd also recommend High Springs. It's a bit country but it's maybe 10-15 minutes away from Newberry, rural, and nice. Ocala really would be out of the way, but if you insist on living here, I recommend the southeast side or the far northwest side off 27 and past 75, just for the sake of speeding up the commute. Good luck!

[OpinionInOcala]

There are more than 30 elementary schools in Marion County. Of those, 3 are of a redeemable quality.

• Dr. NH Jones (magnet)
• Madison St. Academy (magnet)
• Eighth St. Elem. (public)

There are 10 middle schools in Marion County. Of those, 1 or 2 are moderately worthwhile in terms of programs offered.

• Howard
• Osceola

There are 9 high schools in Marion County. Of those, 3 are potential options provided that your child(ren) are in magnet-oriented programs (program choice will vary by chosen school).

• West Port
• Forest
• Vanguard

There are 20-some Private schools in Marion County serving various combinations of grade levels. Quality and satisfaction are a bit harder to pin down with the private schools, as opinions range from lackluster, cliquey, and even cult-like, to content, positive, and outright beneficial. Based upon my personal contacts as well as experience with administrators, educators, and tutoring institutions within the area, I can only recommend those which have come up in conversation as having the least negative comments regarding the secular (fact-oriented) aspects of educational quality:

• St. John Lutheran (PK-12)
• The Cornerstone School (non-sectarian, PK-8)
• Trinity Catholic (9-12)
• Redeemer Christian (PK-8)

Insofar as residential arrangements are concerned it's a very mixed bag throughout the county, and I would require more information regarding your budget and lifestyle preferences in order to comment further on the matter.

One concern that struck me immediately was the commute to Newberry from Ocala. It would be somewhat lengthy if you were not residing in one of the communities found in the northwestern quadrant, though if this is not an issue for your husband that would certainly open the door to more possibilities. Particularly so if he's on the comparatively higher end of the earning capacity spectrum relative to the pervasive lack of such throughout the Ocala area.

I think I'll leave it at that for the time being.

If you would like a more personal and frank discussion about anything, please feel free to shoot me a private message. I will almost certainly respond within a day or less.

[Ryan0789]

There is nothing to do in Ocala, PERIOD.

[Sunray8]

Originally Posted by yoly

I am not really sure why I have to be the bearer of bad news again but here it is:

"Bad things can happen anywhere but this just happened in Ocala, Marion County, Florida
Boy, 10, Charged With Manslaughter in Young Cousin's Death - ABC News

Bill O'Reilly taught in Ocala and called it a "crack capital". Wow! Search "Cyberbaiting: Students pushing teachers to meltdown?" on | Fox News

There is a maximum security prison in Ocala. I would stay away from that area because it's run down.

I worked at the Juvenile detention center and it's a mess there. It's too easy for kids to end up in juvenile detention centers in Ocala. Zero tolerance and discrimination and all that... I saw blatant racism in the middle school where I worked. It's very BLACK and WHITE, which I don't like. A search of the metaphor "school to prison pipeline" may give you an idea what life can be for some school kids in Marion County. That metaphor has been criticized as it is not so much a "pipeline" but a "a system or web". So, I wouldn't live or work there."

I also worked at the Home Schooling Department for Marion Dept of Education and many parents chose to home school their kids "because of the violence in schools". Granted I was only a teacher in Ocala for two years so I don't know EVERYTHING about it, but what I saw didn't leave me feeling very good about it.

The worst thing I can say is that a study done on BEST PLACES for RAISING CHILDREN, two years in a row, has rated OCALA, Florida DEAD LAST ... https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-best-places-for-children-in-2016

So why can't you live in Newberry?

I would have to say that if there is a prison near a location then you should not move there.

[KatesKat]

Avoid Silver Spring Shores at all costs. I live outside Ocala in a rural low-crime area. But it's true that unless you like shopping and eating out there isn't much to do in Marion Co.