Local opinion of area schools needed

[dunelover]

Hi all---I am considering a move w/ my family to the area and wonder if you local parents would provide some input as to the schools. Would love to be in SoWal area and will consider private.

We have some of the most underpaid teachers in Oklahoma --ranked quite low and have poorly funded schools that require alot of parental support for fundraising, volunteering etc. Class size is not great either 22:1. I have noticed this is much better in Florida.

Any input would be great.....like where do you guys recommend....Do you have a state PreK program?

 

[30AStyleArtist]

We moved here from Tampa when my daughter was in 5th grade. That was a major concern as she came from A+ rated schools. She has turned out fine - She is now in South Walton as a freshman and took Algebra 2 honors this year! She went to Butler elementary, Seaside Middle and now is at South Walton. (They are all rated A+ - the high school just got it this year) They are also just breaking ground for the Okaloosa/Walton College campus near the high school too. So when they dual enroll (where they take college courses in high school) they wont have to drive to Niceville. It is coming along!!!!
Contact info for the schools - go to http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/
Hope this helps!

 

[ShallowsNole]

Others can elaborate on this at length, but I am extremely satisfied with the education my son is receiving here. However, the factors you worry about in Oklahoma happen here as well. Our teachers are paid less than neighboring school district, and while there is a "limit" on class size, my son's class size in elementary school was often 25:1. However, we pretty much understood this was due to the growth in the area. Every school that has been built in South Walton reached capacity within two years.

Florida does have pre-K, but those with younger children would be better to answer. Mine is now a snarling teenager.

Florida has also passed legislation that requires students entering the 9th grade to declare a major. :scratch: The intent is to tailor their high school classes to prepare them for their career goals. This will be interesting.

Again, I'm very happy with our school system. If that is the main thing holding you back, come on down.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Florida has a Voluntary P-K--I have been checking into it for my granddaughter for when my son and family move here in the summer.

During the school year, Walton Co school only has a PreK for special needs children; in the summer Butler Elem offers the program, but not during the school year--not enough space.

There is one private PreK provider that I have been able to find in SoWal, and there is one in Freeport. Pre-schools are also scarce and there are waiting lists.

From everything I have heard, the regular schools are pretty good. There are also some private schools.

 

[beachmouse]

For the hard data:

http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/default.asp

Schools districts encompass entire counties here, unlike a lot of areas where city or township lines determine districts.

Right now, I'd give the Destin Elementary and Destin Middle School (Okaloosa County side of the line) an edge over the SoWal schools, though the SoWal schools have really improved in the past ten years. Freeport's an area in transition- they've gotten low score in the past, but then they've also had a large low income population that often strongly correlates with low test scores. The big developments there like Hammock Bay and Owl's Head are bringing in a different sort of demographic.

Save for the odd Montesori program, the private schools tend to be Very Fundamentalist Christian. There are a couple of very neat charter (public independent) schools like Seaside Middle School and the Ballet Academy in Ft. Walton Beach that could be worth looking into.

The high school major is really nothing much- something like 2-3 classes if the student doesn't want to go whole hog.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Declaring a major in 9th grade??? that is some crapola legislation, in my opinion.

a couple of links you might find useful regarding Gov't schools here in Walton Co.:

http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/

http://www.floridasmart.com/local/counties/walton/education_public.htm

 

[supermom262]

Hi all---I am considering a move w/ my family to the area and wonder if you local parents would provide some input as to the schools. Would love to be in SoWal area and will consider private.

We have some of the most underpaid teachers in Oklahoma --ranked quite low and have poorly funded schools that require alot of parental support for fundraising, volunteering etc. Class size is not great either 22:1. I have noticed this is much better in Florida.

Any input would be great.....like where do you guys recommend....Do you have a state PreK program?

Everyone has posted relevant information. To address fundraising and volunteering, you will be doing the same things here. The schools are what they are today and what they will be tomorrow because of fundraising, volunteering and a STRONG group of parents wanting more for their children. People have moved here for various reasons, a lot leaving high powered careers and have now given freely of their time and knowledge, not just in school but within the community. I'm grateful for all their generous support!
The teacher pay is lower here than a lot of other areas as well. The teachers who are here are here for the love of teaching, the support from the parents and community and I can't think of any other area where I would want to teach!

 

[dunelover]

Thanks so much for all the input and links! Beachmouse---you are right about districts being as small as cities---ours are even smaller, and top heavy at the admin level which eats up so much funding. We are used to picking where we live based on schools, which is what we are attempting to do again.

It was nice to know of the ballet academy as I have one ballerina that would love that! I had not heard of it before now, thanks so much....

Have you found that your kids were able to form friendships easy within the "neighborhood" that you live in? I wonder if it seems like there are alot of friends moving in and out? Thanks so much for your help---Hope to be there soon....

 

[supermom262]

The NWFBallet Academy is located in Fort Walton, a major hike from South Walton. If you choose to live in that area, then it is doable. From South Walton, you are a good 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your location in South Walton. If you have other children and are driving to and from different schools, you will be spending a lot of time on HWY 98, not including after school activities or sports. It becomes very stressful in seasonal traffic.
The South Walton Montessori Academy is a great private school, located on the East end of South Walton. It has toddler, pre-k classrooms as well as an elementary school. St. Rita has a pre-school, located near 393 and 98 in Santa Rosa Beach. Your choices within the public elementary schools in South Walton are Butler, located on the West end of South Walton and Bay, located about half way between, in Point Washington. There are two Middle schools, Emerald Coast next to Butler and Seaside, in the neighborhood of Seaside. Seaside is a small, public charter school. Admission is by lottery, which is held on May 1 this year. We have one High school, South Walton High School, located on 331, by the Coastal Library.
Hope this helps!

 

[TooFarTampa]

A note about class sizes: In 2002 Florida voters passed an amendment that requires the following student-to-teacher standards for public schools:

18-1 PreK-3
22-1 4-8
25-1 9-12

The amendment, which former Gov. Jeb Bush hated , is being implemented, with a target date of 2009. Current Gov. Crist seems to support it so I expect it will be fully realized at some point. So the experience of students in the near future may differ from those 10 or even 5 years prior.