From Orange County Public Schools

Orange County Public Schools is pleased to announce Zellwood Elementary and Kelly Park School as Apple Distinguished Schools for the 2024-2027 program term.

Schools apply for this award and are selected based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and their use of Apple products to inspire, shape and influence teaching and learning.

“OCPS is proud to be a leader in technology and innovation. By equipping schools with the latest technology our students need to compete in the global economy, we develop students’ critical thinking, collaboration and creativity,” said Superintendent Maria Vazquez. “We are excited to be recognized as members of this community of educators that connects students to the world and fosters their personal development.”

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of leadership and educational excellence with a clear vision of how technology-rich environments support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, shape, and influence teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic achievement.

By integrating technology into their classrooms, teachers empower their students to lead, learn and thrive, discover new possibilities, and make their world a better place.

“We once again have cause for celebration with our local public schools,” said Melissa Byrd, OCPS District 7 board member who represents Apopka. “I am incredibly proud of the hard work of the Zellwood and Kelly Park staff to ensure our students have every opportunity to be prepared for this fast-paced world they are entering. What an honor for our Apopka community!”

The Florida Department of Education has given Kelly Park School and Zellwood Elementary an “A” grade for the 2023-24 school year.

This is not Zellwood’s first award in 2024. In April, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Zellwood was among only 42 schools nationwide to receive the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools designation for 2024. The honorees were selected from a pool of candidates from 24 states.