Walton School District

145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435-2909
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
10/
10
Top 10%

Top Rankings

Walton School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Florida for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 8 public middle schools serving 4,136 students in Walton School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public middle schools in Florida.
Public Middle Schools in Walton School District have an average math proficiency score of 71% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
21 Schools
1,698 Schools
# Students
12,007 Students
1,049,029 Students
# Teachers
782 Teachers
55,746 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Walton School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 55% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (FL)
#6 out of 73 school districts
(Top 10%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

71%
52%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

60%
52%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

65%
52%
55%
88%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
28.2%
33.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.49
0.70

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
20%
39%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
5%
20%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
69%
34%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,547 is higher than the state median of $14,419. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,737 is higher than the state median of $13,816. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (FL)
Total Revenue
$223 MM
$41,097 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$213 MM
$39,380 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$18,547
$14,419

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$17,737
$13,816

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Walton School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Seaside Neighborhood School
Charter School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
10 Smolian Circle
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 231-0396
Gr: 5-12 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Emerald Coast Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4019 Us Highway 98e
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 622-5025
Gr: 6-8 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #33.
Paxton School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
21893 Us Highway 331 N
Paxton, FL 32538
(850) 892-1230
Gr: PK-12 | 783 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #44.
Freeport Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
160 Victory Blvd
Freeport, FL 32439
(850) 892-1220
Gr: 5-8 | 790 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #55.
Walton Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
605 Bruce Ave
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1281
Gr: 6-8 | 796 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #66.
Walton Initiative For Success In Education (Wise)
Alternative School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
555 Walton Rd, Wise Campus
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
(850) 892-1111
Gr: PK-12 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #77.
Walton Academy Inc.
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
389 Dorsey Ave
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-3999
Gr: 5-12 | 130 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: n/an/a
Walton County Jail Program
Alternative School
145 S Park St
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-1100
Gr: 6-12

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 21 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,007 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 55% (Btm 50% in FL)
  • : Top 10%
  • : 71% (Top 10%)
  • : 60% (Top 20%)
  • : 65% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education

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