Both Districts Celebrate “A” Ratings and Significant Academic Gains
The Florida Department of Education has released school grades for the 2024–2025 academic year, and it’s great news for Northwest Florida. Both the Okaloosa and Walton County School Districts have earned coveted “A” ratings, underscoring their commitment to academic excellence, student success, and continuous improvement. These ratings reflect strong performance in key indicators such as graduation rates, learning gains, middle and high school acceleration, and college and career readiness.
Okaloosa County School District: Sustained Excellence Across the Board
The Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) once again earned an “A” rating, continuing its tradition of academic achievement. OCSD is one of only three districts in Florida to have earned an “A” every year school grades have been issued since 2014. The district posted a total of 793 points, up from 772 last year, and saw 92% of schools receive an A or B—an increase from 86% in the previous year.
OCSD also maintained an impressive 88% graduation rate and posted academic gains in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Civics. Notably, there was a 9-point gain in middle school acceleration and a 6-point increase in college and career acceleration.
Graduation Rates by High School:
- Laurel Hill School – 100%
- Niceville High School – 97%
- Crestview High School – 97%
- Baker School – 95%
- Choctawhatchee High School – 91%
- Fort Walton Beach High School – 89%
School Grade Improvements (2024 → 2025):
- Schools earning an A increased from 15 to 19
- Schools earning a B decreased from 17 to 15
- Schools earning a C decreased from 5 to 3
Notable School Improvements:
- B to A: Baker School, Bruner Middle School, Davidson Middle School, Walker Elementary
- C to B: Choctawhatchee High School, Edwins Elementary, Shalimar Elementary
Schools Just One Point Shy of an “A”:
- Fort Walton Beach High School
- Meigs Middle School
- Northwood Elementary School
Schools with Consistent “A” Ratings (Past 3 Years):
- Elementary: Antioch, Bluewater, Destin, Edge, Florosa, Plew
- Middle: Destin, Ruckel
- Specialized: Okaloosa STEMM Academy, Northwest Florida Ballet Academie
- High School: Niceville High School
Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised the district’s accomplishments, saying, “Once again, Okaloosa County has demonstrated what is possible when students, teachers, families, and school leaders work together toward a common goal. Earning an A rating is a reflection of the high standards we hold ourselves to and our belief in continuous improvement.”
Walton County School District: Among Florida’s Top 2
The Walton County School District (WCSD) also received an “A” rating for the 8th consecutive year, tying for the #2 spot among all 67 districts in Florida. Walton County garnered 73% of available points—an increase of 35 points over the previous year—and ranked among the top 4 districts statewide. Walton is one of just seven Florida districts to have 100% A or B schools and one of only 28 to earn an “A” grade this year.
The Florida DOE’s grading system considers achievement and learning gains, graduation rates, middle school acceleration, and college and career readiness. WCSD showed improvement in 11 of 12 student success metrics.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes credited the achievement to the district’s focus on innovation and student-centered learning: “Congratulations to our teachers, students, school board, staff, and community on putting in the work necessary to realize this exceptional accomplishment. EPIC is The Walton County Way—congratulations to all!”
2024–2025 School Grades in Walton County:
- Paxton School – A
- Mossy Head School – A
- West DeFuniak Elementary – A
- Maude Saunders Elementary – B
- Walton Middle School – A
- Walton High School – A
- Freeport High School – A
- Freeport Middle School – A
- Freeport Elementary – B
- South Walton High School – A
- Dune Lakes Elementary – A
- Emerald Coast Middle School – A
- Van R. Butler Elementary – A
- Magnet Innovation Center – A
Walton County’s continued academic excellence highlights the district’s dedication to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.
For full school performance reports, visit the Florida Department of Education’s website: www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades.
