Elementary Schools in Ocoee: A Guide to Prairie Lake Elementary, Ocoee Elementary, and More
What families moving to Ocoee need to know about OCPS elementary schools — grades, locations, and what makes each one stand out
Ocoee, FL is served by six public elementary schools within Orange County Public Schools (OCPS): Prairie Lake Elementary (8723 Hackney Prairie Rd), Ocoee Elementary (400 S Lakewood Ave), Westbrooke Elementary (500 Tomyn Blvd), Thornebrooke Elementary (601 Thornebrooke Dr), Citrus Elementary (87 N Clarke Rd), and Spring Lake Elementary (1105 Sarah Lee Ln). All six serve grades PreK–5 and are part of OCPS, which holds an overall "A" district rating from the Florida Department of Education. Prairie Lake Elementary earned an "A" grade in 2024–2025 — up from a "C" the prior year — making it one of only six Title I elementary schools in OCPS to earn the top grade. Westbrooke Elementary ranks in the top 20% of Florida elementary schools, with math proficiency around 73–80% and reading proficiency around 68%.
One of the first questions families ask when considering a move to Ocoee is simple: How are the elementary schools? Good news: Ocoee is part of Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), an "A"-rated district among the ten largest in the country. Within Ocoee itself, there are six solid public elementary options — each with its own personality, neighborhood feel, and recent track record worth knowing about.
The Ocoee Elementary School Landscape at a Glance
Before we dive school by school, a quick note on zoning: which elementary your child attends depends on your specific home address. OCPS provides a free Find My School tool on their website. School boundaries can shift over time, so always verify before finalizing a purchase.
That said, here are the six public elementary schools currently serving Ocoee and the surrounding West Orange area:
- Prairie Lake Elementary — 8723 Hackney Prairie Rd, Orlando 32818
- Ocoee Elementary — 400 S Lakewood Ave, Ocoee 34761
- Westbrooke Elementary — 500 Tomyn Blvd, Ocoee 34761
- Thornebrooke Elementary — 601 Thornebrooke Dr, Ocoee 34761
- Citrus Elementary — 87 N Clarke Rd, Ocoee 34761
- Spring Lake Elementary — 1105 Sarah Lee Ln, Ocoee 34761
All six are traditional public schools (grades PreK–5) within OCPS, meaning no tuition and no lottery required for zoned students. A couple of charter options like Hope Charter School also operate in the area, but this guide focuses on the zoned public schools.
Prairie Lake Elementary: The Comeback Story of the Year
If you follow OCPS school grades at all, you've probably seen Prairie Lake Elementary pop up in local news coverage. In the 2024–2025 school year, Prairie Lake earned an "A" grade from the Florida Department of Education — jumping from a "C" the prior year. That's a significant two-letter leap, and it made Prairie Lake one of only six Title I elementary schools in all of OCPS to hit the top grade.
The school serves approximately 818 students and is led by Principal Sean Downing, now in his third year. Prairie Lake's mission centers on a safe, supportive learning environment — and the 2024–2025 results suggest that mission is taking real hold. For families considering the Clarcona/Ocoee corridor along SR 414 and 429, this turnaround is a meaningful development.
Westbrooke Elementary: A Consistent Academic Standout
Located at 500 Tomyn Blvd, Westbrooke Elementary is arguably the academic flagship among Ocoee's public elementaries. It holds an "A" school designation from the Florida Department of Education and ranks in the top 20% of all Florida elementary schools based on test performance.
The numbers tell a compelling story: roughly 73–80% of Westbrooke students score at or above proficiency in math, and around 68% do so in reading — both significantly higher than the Florida state averages of approximately 52% in each subject. The school serves around 520–533 students in grades K–5, led by Principal Dr. Vidal A. Reyes.
Westbrooke also sits in a convenient location for families in the Thornebrooke and Tomyn Boulevard corridor, and it feeds into Gotha's middle school pipeline — Gotha Middle is just 1.7 miles away, West Orange High 2.0 miles. For more on the full school landscape, visit our Gotha Schools & Education guide.
Ocoee Elementary: Cardinal Nation in the Heart of Town
Ocoee Elementary sits right in the middle of the city at 400 S Lakewood Ave — walkable from many older neighborhoods near downtown Ocoee. Principal Kandace Goshe leads a community-first campus where students (the Cardinals) are known for school spirit. With around 694 students and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio that beats the district average, Ocoee Elementary has deep roots and a welcoming atmosphere. The school's annual Spirit Run is a much-loved community tradition that says a lot about how engaged this school's families tend to be.
Thornebrooke Elementary: Serving Ocoee's Southern Edge
Thornebrooke Elementary at 601 Thornebrooke Dr sits right at the Ocoee–Gotha border. It serves approximately 591 students with a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio — one of the lower ratios in the area. Roughly 73% of students come from families not on free and reduced lunch, reflecting the more established neighborhoods in southern Ocoee and northern Gotha. If you're looking at homes in the Thornebrooke subdivision or Park Ridge, this is your zoned school. Our Gotha schools guide has additional context on the K–12 path for Thornebrooke families.
Citrus Elementary and Spring Lake Elementary
Rounding out the Ocoee elementary lineup are two more community-focused campuses:
Citrus Elementary (87 N Clarke Rd) serves the northern Ocoee area near Clarke Road. It's a traditional neighborhood school with the community involvement you'd expect from a well-established OCPS campus.
Spring Lake Elementary (1105 Sarah Lee Ln) serves families in eastern Ocoee near Crown Point and the growing communities along SR 50. Like all OCPS elementaries, it benefits from the district's "A" rating and access to districtwide enrichment programs. For current grade letters and program offerings at both campuses, check directly with OCPS — school grades are updated annually each summer.
Beyond the Grades: What Families Actually Care About
School grades matter — but they're not the whole picture. Here are a few other things relocating families frequently ask about Ocoee elementary schools:
After-School Programs
Several Ocoee elementaries host Champions Before & After School Care on campus — Westbrooke Elementary, for example, offers Champions programming on-site. Check with each school directly to confirm availability and pricing for the current year.
Gifted & Talented Programs
Westbrooke Elementary offers a Gifted & Talented program — one of the reasons it attracts families from a wider geographic area. OCPS also offers districtwide magnet programs and scholastic academies open to all Orange County families.
The Broader K–12 Path
For most Ocoee elementary students, the path after 5th grade leads to Ocoee Middle School or Gotha Middle School, then on to Ocoee High or West Orange High. Ocoee High holds back-to-back "A" grades and a 100% graduation rate — a remarkable benchmark that reflects well on the entire K–12 pipeline. Families considering nearby Gotha, Horizon West, and Winter Garden will find a similarly strong school landscape across the West Orange corridor.
What the Locals Know
Prairie Lake's dramatic grade jump, Westbrooke's consistent top-20% ranking, Ocoee Elementary's neighborhood warmth, and Thornebrooke's smaller class ratios — Ocoee's elementary landscape covers a lot of ground. If solid schools are a key factor in your home search (and for most families, they absolutely are), Ocoee delivers across multiple neighborhoods and price points. The combination of an "A"-rated district, actively improving campuses, and genuine community investment makes this one of the more underrated school landscapes in greater Orlando.
For the most current zoning information, school grades, and enrollment details, visit the official Orange County Public Schools website.
Thinking about making Ocoee or nearby Gotha your family's next home? Explore our Gotha Schools & Education guide or browse Ocoee homes for sale to find the neighborhood that puts the right school in your backyard. Questions? We're here to help!
