Best Schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
20 schools · 9 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Fort Walton Beach?
Use this page to compare every school in Fort Walton Beach by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School
Elementary · Okaloosa. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Liza Jackson Preparatory School
Elementary · Okaloosa. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Wright Elementary School
Elementary · Okaloosa. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fort Walton Beach for 2026 are Annette P. Edwins Elementary School (8.3/10), Liza Jackson Preparatory School (7.5/10), and Wright Elementary School (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
20
14 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$295,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
20
14 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$295,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 75% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Fort Walton Beach schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fort Walton Beach
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 20 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annette P. Edwins Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Liza Jackson Preparatory School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Wright Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Choctawhatchee Senior High School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | W. C. Pryor Middle School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Northwest Florida Ballet Academie | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Elliott Point Elementary School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Fort Walton Beach High School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Max Bruner Junior Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Silver Sands-Excep. Children | 4.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $65,840
- Median home value
- $295,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fort Walton Beach compares
Florida rank
#188 of 286
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$66k
88% of Florida median
Schools in this city
17
Okaloosa runs Fort Walton Beach's public schools
14 public schools. Okaloosa is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Fort Walton Beach is a Okaloosa school (14 of 14).
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.8 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Fort Walton Beach, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach, Florida is home to 20 schools, including 14 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Fort Walton Beach show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Fort Walton Beach is Annette P. Edwins Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Fort Walton Beach is served by 1 school district: OKALOOSA. These districts collectively serve 32,426 students.
Fort Walton Beach's community shows 29% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $65,840. The poverty rate in the area is 13.9%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 464 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 977 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 590 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 4 | 598 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 5 | 525 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.8 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Mary Catholic SchoolPrivate 379 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Cinco Christain SchoolPrivate 148 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Montessori Learning CenterPrivate 46 students · Pre-K–3rd | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 14 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 679 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 2 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,701 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 1,558 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 43 students · 7th–12th | 4.3 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 137 students · 3rd–10th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 106 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 3 | 157 students · 3rd–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 4 | 4 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 250 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Lotus Learning & Arts CenterPrivate 27 students · 2nd–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach, Florida · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$65,840
Median Home Value
$295,200
Median Rent
$1,351/mo
Population
58,731
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
13.9%
Community Profile
Fort Walton Beach has a median household income of $65,840. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $295,200, with a median rent of $1,351/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.9%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Florida
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 6
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Florida
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
How many schools are in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
Fort Walton Beach has 20 schools, including 14 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fort Walton Beach is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Annette P. Edwins Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Annette P. Edwins Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is W. C. Pryor Middle School with a composite score of 6.5/10.
What is the best high school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Choctawhatchee Senior High School with a composite score of 6.6/10.
How many school districts serve Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
Fort Walton Beach is served by 1 school district: Okaloosa.
What is the education level in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Fort Walton Beach have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The median household income in Fort Walton Beach is approximately $65,840 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
Yes, Fort Walton Beach has 6 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fort Walton Beach is 16.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.