Our Priorities for the school are:

1. It will be safe.

2. It will be clean.

3. It will provide a quality education to all of its students.

Out of 1650 public elementary schools across the state of Florida, Oak Park is ranked 495. This is based on the total points earned using the A+ school grade formula. Our goal is to be in the top 100!

Mission Statement:

To provide an environment which will help each child to realize his own potential and to become a responsible citizen with an understanding of the world in which we live. Oak Park strives to provide a strong curriculum of basic skills and remedial and supplemental programs to meet the special needs and talents of our varied student population.

Our Goals:

Safe, violence-free schools.

Enhanced curricular and instructional opportunities.

A high quality workforce.

The highest levels of community and parent involvement.

Adequate and appropriate educational facilities.

History:

Oak Park Elementary began life as a school in August 1966 . There were 1,030 students and 38 teachers housed in 30 classrooms. Some of the carpet, equipment and landscaping plants were still missing.

Before the first term was over, 4 portables were added to the brand new school. A new concept this year was that each student should be exposed to more than one teacher at the elementary level. The school structure had a built-in flexibility. The movable partitions between rooms allowed two team teachers to show a presentation to two classes instead of just one.

Music appreciation was stressed by including 15 extra minutes of music each week with a sing-a-long broadcast over the intercom. The lunch menu was broadcast in Spanish. Students would repeat the words in Spanish, then try to guess the English counterpart.

Oak Park's first principal was Dr. David Owens. He was the first elementary school principal in North Brevard to hold a Ph.D. He and 80% of the teaching staff were new to Brevard County that first year. His wife, Sheila, was the librarian at South Lake School.

When Oak Park celebrated its 20th anniversary, something fun and different was planned for every day of the week. A contest was held for students to guess which five teachers and staff were there when Oak Park opened its doors. The five were, Elizabeth Ryoland, Phyliss Till, Inez Futch, Lynn Hamlin and Donnie VanNess. On Thursday, a time capsule was buried containing items that would reflect something of the culture of the day.

In 1997, Oak Park celebrated its 30th anniversary with an outdoor assembly and open house. The Time Capsule was opened, former faculty members were recognized and the Oak Park Chorus sang.

2006-2007 marks Oak Park's 40th birthday/anniversary! The original building includes the main office, Media Center, kitchen/cafeteria and classrooms 1 through 29. The therapy pool and 200 buildings were built in 1988, dedicated to our Exceptional Education programs. The 500, 600, 700 and 800 buildings were added at the same time, providing larger classrooms, a music suite, and a building with smaller classrooms for special pullout programs.