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Very Good

#1196 of 3,778 schools in FL

Top 32% in state

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)

School · Walton · Defuniak Springs, FL

A school in Defuniak Springs, FL where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.

555 WALTON RD WISE CAMPUS, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433

  • Math 21% vs FL 53% (2024)
  • Reading 19% vs FL 53% (2024)
  • 50%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change+0.21 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.5Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20.5% (2024 FAST)
Reading/ELA Proficiency18.5% (2024 FAST)
Math vs. State Avg-35.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-36.3 pts
Overall Proficiency20% (2024 FAST, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2024 FAST)
vs. Expected-18.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
College Readiness8.3Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate50%+
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.5:1
District spending per student$13,721
Chronic Absenteeism34.8%

Students at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 FAST proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.

Math Proficiency21%(2024 FAST)
School
State
53%(2024 FAST)
ELA Proficiency19%(2024 FAST)
School
State
53%(2024 FAST)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2020, to 20% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2010
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2011
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2012
ELA
25%
2013
ELA
10%
2016
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
15%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
35%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
35%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
27%
2024
Math
21%
ELA
19%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 25% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 32 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

81.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 4Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,623/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Defuniak Springs), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$51,604

Median home value

$152,000

Median rent

$1,045/mo

College educated

13.5%

Homeownership

73.3%

Poverty rate

20.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 32433; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Advanced STEM Courses1of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Walton Virtual School WcsdEnrollment path unverifiedNot ratedK–122.1 mi7Compare →
Bay SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.0PKNot available124Compare →
Paxton SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.7PK–12Not available795Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Walton

Schools in district
24
Rank in district
#13 of 18
District spending per student
$13,721NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
14.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) is listed in WALTON; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) is a public school in Defuniak Springs, FL, part of Walton, serving approximately 247 students in grades Pre-K-12th with a 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,196 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)

What grades does Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) serve?

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)?

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) has an enrollment of approximately 247 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)?

The student-teacher ratio at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) rank in FL?

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) ranks #1,196 of 3,778 schools in FL.

What is Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)'s MySchoolScout rating?

Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) a charter school?

No, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) a Title I school?

No, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise)?

81.8% of students at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (wise) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
247
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
alternative
Setting
Distant Town
County
Walton County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.8%
4-Year Graduation
50%+
Area population (ZIP 32433)
18,970
Area average commute
30.8 min
Area median age
38.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 32433; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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