Walton School District
School District · Defuniak Springs, Florida
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
20
6 elem, 3 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
11,779
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
20
6 elem, 3 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
11,779
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
How this district compares
Florida rank
#5 of 71
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.0
above Florida avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,721
+$1,960 vs Florida median
District size
11,779 students
Typical than Florida median
The short answer
Walton ranks #5 of 71 Florida districts by overall school rating. Walton's schools with real test data average 7.3/10 across 17 schools. Its top-rated schools are Freeport Middle School (8.8/10), Maude Saunders Elementary School (8.8/10), and Emerald Coast Middle School (8.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.8/10 despite 85% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Walton schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Walton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (17 of 20). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeport Middle School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Maude Saunders Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Emerald Coast Middle School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Walton Middle School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Walton High School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Dune Lakes Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Freeport Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | West Defuniak Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Van R. Butler Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Paxton School | 7.6 / 10 |
See all 20 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Walton
Walton is a Defuniak Springs, Florida school district serving 20 schools.The district educates 11,779 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1. District-level spending was $13,721 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.3/10, Walton is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Maude Saunders Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Walton students show an average math proficiency of 62.7% and ELA proficiency of 58.4%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 7 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Walton, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Walton with test data.
Schools in Walton
20 schoolsElementary Schools6
High Schools7
District Details
- State
- Florida
- City
- Defuniak Springs
- Total Enrollment
- 11,779
- Teachers (FTE)
- 769
- District spending per student
- $13,721NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 14.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Walton?
Walton has 20 schools in total — 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Walton?
The average composite rating for Walton is 7.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Walton?
Walton's district-level spending was $13,721 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Walton?
The average student-teacher ratio in Walton is 15.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Walton?
Maude Saunders Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Walton with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Walton?
Across schools in Walton with test data, the average math proficiency is 62.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 58.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Walton compare to other districts in Florida?
Walton has an average school rating of 7.3/10 across 20 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Florida by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 62.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 58.4%
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 rateOther School Districts in FL
Compare Walton with neighboring districts in the state.
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.
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