School Profile
Clarcona Elementary was founded September 24,1986 as Orange County's 69th elementary school. The school opened with 560 students and 71 staff members. The September 24th dedication ceremony marked the joining of two different communities. The dedication ceremony was designed to enhance the bridge between Apopka and Ocoee.
Principal Nicholas Gledich invited a student and parent from each community, a teacher, para-professional and school board member to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony. This signified the unity that represented Clarcona. The word "Clarcona" was derived from "Clark's Corner". Clark's Corner is now known as the intersection of Apopka-Vineland and Clarcona-Ocoee Road. The Clark family members were the original owners of the surrounding land and the first house in the area. Clark's Corner has become one word, "Clarcona", and is the namesake for our school.
The school was built to relieve Spring Lake Elementary and Phyllis Wheatley Elementary. The school is located on 16 acres in the rural but fast growing community of Clarcona, which remains in unincorporated Orange County. The campus consists of nine permanent classroom buildings, 31 portable classrooms, a physical education pavilion, cafeteria, media center, and administration building. Student access to technology begins in their classroom where as least two computers are connected to the school network. Students have further access to technology during their special area time in our 32 station computer lab. In addition, 12 computers are available to our students in the media center Each classroom has a minimum of 3 computers for Student use.
The students attending Clarcona Elementary live in Apopka, Ocoee, and unincorporated Orange County. Approximately 39% of our students are transported by school bus. Children at Clarcona come from a wide range of socioeconomic and culturally diverse backgrounds. The current enrollment is 1010, of which 38% are Caucasian, 42% African American, 13% Hispanic, 6% Asian and 1% Multiracial. Approximately 46% of the students receive free/reduced meals. In grades kindergarten through three the average teacher to student ratio is 1/17.8. In grades four and five the average teacher to student ratio is 1/23. The state’s requirement is 1/18 and 1/23 respectively. A staff of 70 instructional employees (including a guidance counselor, a dean of students, behavior specialist, reading coach curriculum resource teacher, and a certified media specialist) and 24 non-instructional employees serve our children. Clarcona Elementary has received three statewide recognitions – Red Carpet School Award, the 1990 Exemplary Reading Program Award, and named a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) model school in 2005 and 2006. In 1999, Clarcona became the first Orange County Elementary School to achieve accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It remains the only elementary school accredited in Orange County. This year Clarcona Elementary earned a letter grade of “B” from the State of Florida. |
