Best Schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
19 schools · 8 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.
Liza Jackson Preparatory School
Elementary · Okaloosa. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
St Mary Catholic School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fort Walton Beach for 2026 are Liza Jackson Preparatory School (8.7/10), St Mary Catholic School (7.5/10), and Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 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
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$295,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$295,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 23% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 (17 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liza Jackson Preparatory School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | St Mary Catholic School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Kenwood Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Northwest Florida Ballet Academie | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Lotus Learning & Arts Center | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Wright Elementary School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Fort Walton Beach High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Montessori Learning Center | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Choctawhatchee Senior High School | 5.6 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $65,840
- Median home value
- $295,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
18% 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
#194 of 280
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$66k
88% of Florida median
Schools in this city
17
About Schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach, Florida is home to 19 schools, including 14 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Fort Walton Beach show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which 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 Liza Jackson Preparatory School with a composite score of 8.7/10, 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
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 977 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | 525 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 590 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 464 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 5 | 598 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 | ||
| Private Schools 3 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 School
Private
353 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | Montessori Learning Center
Private
41 students · Pre-K–3rd | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | First United Methodist School
Private
12 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | — | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 2 | 679 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,558 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 1,701 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 43 students · 7th–12th | 4.7 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 137 students · 3rd–10th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 106 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 3 | 157 students · 3rd–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 4 | 4 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 2 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 | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | Lotus Learning & Arts Center
Private
41 students · Kindergarten–11th | 6.4 | ||
Schools in Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach, Florida · 19 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
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 6
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
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 19 schools, including 14 public and 5 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 6.0 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 Liza Jackson Preparatory School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Liza Jackson Preparatory School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Max Bruner Junior Middle School with a composite score of 5.1/10.
What is the best high school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Fort Walton Beach on MySchoolScout is Fort Walton Beach High School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
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 5 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary Catholic School with a score of 7.5/10.
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.