Top Rankings
Walton School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Florida for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 12 public middle schools serving 4,039 students in Walton School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public middle schools in Florida.
ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Middle Schools in Walton School District have an average math proficiency score of 71% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
24 Schools
1,745 Schools
# Students
11,779 Students
1,042,011 Students
# Teachers
746 Teachers
54,708 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Walton School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 55% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#6 out of 73 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
52%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
52%
Graduation Rate
55%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.48
0.70
% American Indian
1%
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
18%
38%
% Black
5%
21%
% White
70%
34%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,966 is higher than the state median of $11,962. The school district revenue/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,668 is higher than the state median of $11,615. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$153 MM
$34,349 MM
Spending
$149 MM
$33,354 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,966
$11,962
Spending / Student
$12,668
$11,615
Best Walton School District ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Seaside Neighborhood School
Charter School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
10 Smolian Circle
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 231-0396
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 231-0396
Gr: 5-12 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Emerald Coast Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4019 Us Highway 98e
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 622-5025
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 622-5025
Gr: 6-8 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #33.
Paxton School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
21893 Us Highway 331 N
Paxton, FL 32538
(850) 892-1230
Paxton, FL 32538
(850) 892-1230
Gr: PK-12 | 795 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #44.
Freeport Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
360 Kylea Laird Dr
Freeport, FL 32439
(850) 892-1220
Freeport, FL 32439
(850) 892-1220
Gr: 5-8 | 678 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #55.
Walton Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
605 Bruce Ave
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1281
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1281
Gr: 6-8 | 775 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #66.
Walton Virtual School Wcsd
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Gr: K-12 | 7 students
Rank: #77.
Walton Virtual Franchise
(Math: <50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Gr: 6-12 | 21 students Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #88.
Walton Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
286 Gene Hurley Rd
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 520-4656
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 520-4656
Gr: 6-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #99.
Walton Initiative For Success In Education (Wise)
Alternative School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
555 Walton Rd, Wise Campus
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
(850) 892-1111
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
(850) 892-1111
Gr: PK-12 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1010.
Walton Academy Inc.
Alternative School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
389 Dorsey Ave
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-3999
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-3999
Gr: 5-12 | 170 students Student-teacher ratio: 57:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: n/an/a
Walton County Jail Program
Alternative School
145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Gr: K-12
Recent Articles

10 Advantages of ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.

COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.