7.3 avg / 10

Best Schools in Niceville, Florida

9 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 6

Private: 3

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 7.3/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Niceville?

Use this page to compare every school in Niceville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Okaloosa. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Niceville for 2026 are James E Plew Elementary School (8.2/10), Bluewater Elementary School (8.2/10), and Lula J. Edge Elementary School (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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.

Top-Rated Schools in Niceville

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	James E Plew Elementary School	8.2 / 10	Elementary	—	84th
2	Bluewater Elementary School	8.2 / 10	Elementary	—	84th
3	Lula J. Edge Elementary School	7.6 / 10	Elementary	—	74th
4	C. W. Ruckel Middle School	7.3 / 10	Middle	—	69th
5	Niceville Senior High School	7.3 / 10	High	—	69th
6	Rocky Bayou Christian School	7.2 / 10	Other	—	77th
7	Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College	6.7 / 10	High	—	58th
8	St Paul Christian School	6.2 / 10	Elementary	—	43th

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: 7.3/10
Median household income: $105,858
Median home value: $414,900
Bachelor's degree or higher: 45%
Avg commute: 27 min
Owner-occupied homes: 78%

How Niceville compares

Florida rank

#38 of 280

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+1.0

above Florida avg (6.3)

Median household income

$106k

141% of Florida median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Niceville, Florida

Niceville, Florida is home to 9 schools, including 6 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 7.3 out of 10, schools in Niceville perform strongly 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 Niceville is James E Plew Elementary School with a composite score of 8.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Niceville is served by 1 school district: OKALOOSA. These districts collectively serve 32,426 students.

Niceville's community shows 45% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $105,858. The poverty rate in the area is 7.2%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (9) Elementary (4) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (9) Public (6) Private (3)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (9) Academics (6) Growth (6) Diversity (6) Resources (6)

Filter by ZIP: 32578 (9)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	James E Plew Elementary School 820 students · Pre-K–5th	820	Pre-K–5th	8.2
2	Bluewater Elementary School 914 students · Pre-K–5th	914	Pre-K–5th	8.2
3	Lula J. Edge Elementary School 543 students · Pre-K–5th	543	Pre-K–5th	7.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	St Paul Christian School Private 58 students · Pre-K–5th	58	Pre-K–5th	6.2

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	C. W. Ruckel Middle School 1,054 students · 6th–8th	1,054	6th–8th	7.3

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Niceville Senior High School 1,998 students · 9th–12th	1,998	9th–12th	7.3
2	Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College 423 students · 9th–12th	423	9th–12th	6.7

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Rocky Bayou Christian School Private 863 students · Pre-K–12th	863	Pre-K–12th	7.2
2	Emerald Coast Autism Center Private 10 students · UG–UG	10	UG–UG	—

Schools in Niceville

Niceville, Florida · 9 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$105,858

Median Home Value

$414,900

Median Rent

$1,744/mo

Population

33,948

College Educated

45%

Homeownership

78%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Community Profile

Niceville has a median household income of $105,858. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $414,900, with a median rent of $1,744/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Florida
Elementary: 4
Middle: 1
High: 2
Other: 2

Resources

🔍 Google "Niceville schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Niceville 📊 Niche Niceville Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

OKALOOSA

52 schools · 32,426 students

Nearby Cities

Valparaiso (2 schools)

Fort Walton Beach (19 schools)

11 mi

Miramar Beach (1 school)

12 mi

Mary Esther (3 schools)

15 mi

Crestview (21 schools)

17 mi

Santa Rosa Beach (10 schools)

Santa Rosa (1 school)

23 mi

Defuniak Springs (10 schools)

24 mi

Laurel Hill (1 school)

30 mi

Navarre (6 schools)

27 mi

Other Major Cities in Florida

Top metros statewide by school count.

Miami 497 schools Orlando 299 schools Jacksonville 296 schools Tampa 239 schools Hialeah 118 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Niceville, Florida

How many schools are in Niceville, Florida?

Niceville has 9 schools, including 6 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Niceville, Florida?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Niceville is 7.3 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 Niceville, Florida?

The top-ranked school in Niceville on MySchoolScout is James E Plew Elementary School with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best elementary school in Niceville, Florida?

The top-ranked elementary school in Niceville on MySchoolScout is James E Plew Elementary School with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best middle school in Niceville, Florida?

The top-ranked middle school in Niceville on MySchoolScout is C. W. Ruckel Middle School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best high school in Niceville, Florida?

The top-ranked high school in Niceville on MySchoolScout is Niceville Senior High School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

How many school districts serve Niceville, Florida?

Niceville is served by 1 school district: Okaloosa.

What is the education level in Niceville, Florida?

According to Census data, 45% of adults in Niceville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Niceville, Florida?

The median household income in Niceville is approximately $105,858 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Niceville, Florida?

Yes, Niceville has 3 private schools alongside 6 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rocky Bayou Christian School with a score of 7.2/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Niceville, Florida?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Niceville is 17.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Niceville, 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.