Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers
As we enter a new semester, it is my pleasure to share some of the incredible achievements and milestones of the first half of the school year with our families and community members. These highlights are a testament to everyone’s collective hard work and commitment to the Okaloosa County School District. Let’s take a moment to celebrate our successes!
Okaloosa County Earns A Rating
Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) has once again earned an A rating from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) for the 2024-2025 school year! This marks a decade of consistent excellence, as Okaloosa is one of only three districts in Florida to achieve an A every year since school grades were first assigned in 2014. This accomplishment reflects the dedication and perseverance of our students, teachers, staff, and administrators.
Student Achievements In Academics, Arts, And Athletics
In academics, Bruner and Meigs Middle Schools improved to a school grade of a B designated by the state of Florida, while Lewis and Shoal River Middle Schools achieved A grades. Several schools have consistently excelled, with Destin Middle School maintaining an A grade for 23 consecutive years, Ruckel Middle School for 23 years, Destin Elementary for 22 years, Niceville High School for 14 years, STEMM Academy for 11 years, and Plew Elementary for 10 years. Schools like Baker, Bob Sikes, Crestview High, Davidson, Elliott Point, Kenwood, Mary Esther, Northwood, Pryor, and Riverside have all consistently maintained B grades.
Niceville and Fort Walton Beach High Schools were named to the 2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll with a Silver status, recognizing their success in broadening access for students and achieving strong results in Advanced Placement programs. National Merit Scholars were honored at Niceville (Lily Suttlemyre and William Cupp) and Choctawhatchee (Jonathan Curtis and Tina Le) High Schools, and a STEMM Academy student, Emmalynn Otzenberger, earned recognition in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
In November, eight Niceville High students presented marine biodiversity research at the 2nd World Congress of Marine Stations in Japan through the NaGISA program, showcasing their innovative work on an international stage. Fort Walton Beach High junior Reese Armstrong was named the District’s 2024-2025 Sunshine State Scholar, representing Florida’s top STEM-focused 11th graders. Additionally, Niceville High School’s Web Programming students excelled in Florida’s 1st Congressional District App Challenge, earning first, second, and third-place awards for their creative apps: Memory Monsters, WordSay, and Auxilium. These achievements reflect the district’s unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and preparing students for future success.
In arts, Okaloosa students achieved high honors, including elementary school finalists in the 2024 Florida Space Art Contest announced by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez.
In athletics, Niceville achieved impressive results with its football team being crowned Final 4 Football Regional Champions and their cross-country team winning the District Championship.
Ruckel Middle School’s cross-country teams also captured MSAC Championship titles.
Capital Projects & Ribbon Cuttings
The completion of impactful school projects has been made possible by the voter-approved Half-Cent Sales Tax Program, which has also significantly strengthened our capital budget. Since its approval in 2020, this initiative has allowed us to make essential updates across the District, transforming our schools and enhancing the learning environment.
Niceville High School:
New multipurpose building
Newly paved ROTC marching pad
New parking
Lewis School:
New front entrance with canopy
Newly paved car rider line
Ruckel Middle School:
New cafetorium with state-of-the-art STEM classroom
PE pavilion and updated car rider line
Plew Elementary:
New cafetorium with state-of-the-art music classroom
New playground
Shalimar Elementary
New cafetorium with state-of-the-art music classroom
New playground
Okaloosa Named Purple Star District
Governor Ron DeSantis has designated the OCSD as a Purple Star District! This prestigious honor places us among only five districts in Florida to receive this recognition and underscores our steadfast commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. Serving the highest percentage of military students in Florida, we embrace the responsibility of supporting those who serve our nation.
A special thank you goes to Representative Patt Maney for his instrumental role in bringing the Purple Star program to Florida. His leadership and advocacy have been invaluable in making this program a reality and ensuring our military families receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Embracing New Technologies – Esports
OCSD is excited to introduce Esports programs at Choctawhatchee, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville High Schools, as well as STEMM Academy and Shoal River Middle School, leveraging the rising popularity of gaming to promote both academic growth and mental well-being. This initiative, inspired by successful collegiate programs like those at Northwest Florida State College, aims to engage students in new and exciting ways. The program will initially be offered as an extracurricular activity, with plans to eventually incorporate it into the regular curriculum. Esports will begin with intra-district competitions, potentially expanding to state-level matches. Beyond fostering teamwork and competition, Esports provides students with opportunities for college scholarships and future careers in technology and game development, offering pathways for those who may not have interest in traditional athletic programs.
Community Engagement To Support Students
Last semester, we hosted the Second Annual Thanksgiving Meal Initiative, providing 160 Thanksgiving meals to families in need. This heartfelt effort was made possible thanks to the generous support of our community partners: Jacobs-Titan, Florida Power & Light, Eglin Federal Credit Union, The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, Forest Heights Baptist Church, and Publix of Niceville. Our dedicated district employees worked tirelessly to organize, transfer, and distribute meals, ensuring families experienced the warmth and care of our community during the holiday season.
In addition, our partnership with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) brought holiday cheer to over 300 students through the Angel Tree Initiative. Thanks to the generosity of school district staff, families, and community members, we collected and delivered gifts to make the season brighter for our students. We are deeply grateful to Sheriff Eric Aden, the OCSO team, and countless local businesses and individuals for their unwavering commitment to supporting our students and their families.
Celebrating Okaloosa County’s Dedicated Educators And Staff
The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation awarded $52,529 in teacher grants, benefiting 19 different schools and supporting 14 first- time grant recipients.
In Conclusion
The first semester has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with achievements that highlight the strength and spirit of our school district. We are also thrilled to welcome two new members to our School Board—Mr. Brett Hinely and Mr. Parker Destin.
I encourage all families to stay actively involved in their child’s education by using resources like FOCUS to track real-time grades and connecting with teachers or counselors for academic inquiries. Additionally, our district website now features a tool called Let’s Talk, making it easy to submit questions, comments, or concerns and receive timely responses. Visit us at www.okaloosaschools.com.
