The Okaloosa County School District has again scored an A on its report card for what it calls its “unwavering commitment to academic excellence across all grade levels.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on July 7 that improvements were registered in K-12 school performance across all school types statewide. In fact, 71% of all graded schools (2,461 schools) earned either an A or B grade, compared to 64% (2,215) of schools last year. Florida charter schools are also thriving, with 77% earning A or B grades.
The Okaloosa district scored a total of 793 points, up from 772 in 2023–2024. Additionally, 92% of Okaloosa schools earned an A or B, an increase from 86% the previous year. The district also maintained an 88% graduation rate and made gains in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as well as civics.
Okaloosa is one of only three districts in Florida to earn an A grade every year school grades have been issued since 2014.
In a news release announcing the 2024-25 district and school grades, Okaloosa Superintendent Marcus Chambers said, “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 as a district and our shared belief in continuous improvement. I’m deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff and administrators, whose efforts continue to make a difference in the lives of our students.”
In the news release, the district touted the following statistics:
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
Baker School, Bruner Middle, Davidson Middle and Walker Elementary improved from B in 2023-24 to A in 2024-25.
Choctawhatchee High School, Edwins Elementary and Shalimar Elementary improved from C to B.
Fort Walton Beach High School, Meigs Middle and Northwood Elementary were 1 point away from earning A grades.
For a full listing of school and district grades, for this year and past years, visit the Daily News’ data site at https://data.tallahassee.com/school/okaloosa/ This tool also allows readers to check how all other Florida districts and schools fared in 2024-25 and in past years.
Likewise, full information for Walton County, whose school district also maintained its A grade, can be found at https://data.tallahassee.com/school/walton/
‘I couldn’t be more proud’
In an email statement received July 8, Chambers said Okaloosa’s high rating is the result of a “collective effort by passionate educators, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to meeting students where they are.”
The district has emphasized ongoing professional development of teachers, used specific strategies to focus on English language arts and civics, and adjusted instruction in real time to make sure students grow and meet the goals.
“By integrating innovative technologies — such as virtual reality goggles and Clear Touch panels — we’re enhancing instruction in subjects like biology, geometry, and algebra, making learning more engaging and accessible. We’ve also prioritized acceleration opportunities in middle school and expanded college and career readiness initiatives,” Chambers said.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible efforts of our students, educators, and school communities — and what we’ve accomplished together.”
Statewide perspective
“Florida’s use of statewide progress monitoring is yet another example of how Florida leads on education,” DeSantis said in a news release announcing the grades. “Providing more opportunities for parents and teachers to intervene in a child’s performance in school leads to better outcomes and a higher quality education.”
Statewide, 71% of graded schools (2,461 schools) earned an A or B in 2025 compared to 64% (2,215 schools) in 2024. And 44% of all schools earned an A, up from 38% in 2024.
The number of schools earning a D or F decreased from 117 in 2024 to 71 in 2025.
As for school districts statewide: For 2024-25, 28 districts received an A, 31 districts received a B, eight districts received a C. No districts received a D or F.
Our story from 2024: Okaloosa and Walton counties retain A ratings in new Florida school district ratings
Among Florida’s charter schools, 77 percent (480) of graded charter schools earned an A or B, and 68% (412 schools) either increased their grade or maintained an A.
Jim Ross contributed
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa County, Florida reflects on 2024-25 school and district grades