Total enrollment
12,007
+1,652 (+16%) vs SY 2020-21
Walton County
Florida · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary school, Walton County's 26 public schools collectively enroll about 12,069 K-12 students, with Walton the heaviest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 11 high schools.
4-year change in Walton County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Walton County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Florida | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 69.2% | #3 of 63 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 12,069 | #36 of 65 | #707 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #36 of 65 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.5:1 | #8 of 65 | #1,944 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 47.4% | #36 of 65 | #1,754 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 48.6% | #50 of 64 | #1,167 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Walton County school rankings
Residents
82,948
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
26
2 districts
Enrollment
12,069
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$81,986
Above Florida avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.4%
Below Florida avg
Elementary
8
4,981 students
Middle
3
2,458 students
High
11
3,576 students
Combined / other
4
1,054 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
WALTON
12,069 students · 2 districts in Walton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Walton County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
35.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.9% under 18
Test scores in Walton County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Florida state average: 57.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- MAGNET INNOVATION CENTER· 94.6%
- SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL· 84.5%
- DUNE LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 78.1%
- VAN R. BUTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 72.5%
- SOUTH WALTON HIGH SCHOOL· 71.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- MAUDE SAUNDERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 55.0%
- WALTON HIGH SCHOOL· 56.8%
- WEST DEFUNIAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 59.6%
- PAXTON SCHOOL· 60.5%
- MOSSY HEAD SCHOOL· 61.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH WALTON HIGH SCHOOL | Santa Rosa Beach | High | 09-12 | 1,127 | · |
| FREEPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Freeport | Elementary | KG-04 | 1,120 | · |
| WALTON HIGH SCHOOL | Defuniak Springs | High | 09-12 | 969 | · |
| DUNE LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Santa Rosa Beach | Elementary | KG-05 | 924 | · |
| VAN R. BUTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Santa Rosa Beach | Elementary | KG-05 | 914 | · |
| EMERALD COAST MIDDLE SCHOOL | Santa Rosa Beach | Middle | 06-08 | 872 | · |
| WALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Defuniak Springs | Middle | 06-08 | 796 | · |
| FREEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL | Freeport | Middle | 05-08 | 790 | · |
| PAXTON SCHOOL | Paxton | Combined | PK-12 | 783 | · |
| WEST DEFUNIAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Defuniak Springs | Elementary | KG-05 | 704 | · |
| FREEPORT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Freeport | High | 09-12 | 677 | · |
| MAUDE SAUNDERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Defuniak Springs | Elementary | KG-05 | 554 | · |
| MOSSY HEAD SCHOOL | Defuniak Springs | Elementary | PK-05 | 521 | · |
| SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL | Santa Rosa Beach | High | 05-12 | 501 | · |
| WALTON INITIATIVE FOR SUCCESS IN EDUCATION (WISE) | Defuniak Springs | Combined | PK-12 | 264 | · |
| BAY SCHOOL | Santa Rosa | Elementary | PK-PK | 130 | · |
| WALTON ACADEMY INC. | Defuniak Springs | High | 05-12 | 130 | · |
| MAGNET INNOVATION CENTER | Inlet Beach | High | 09-12 | 117 | · |
| FREEPORT LEARNING CENTER | Freeport | Elementary | PK-PK | 114 | · |
| WALTON LEARNING CENTER | Defuniak Springs | High | 06-12 | 34 | · |
| WALTON VIRTUAL FRANCHISE | Defuniak Springs | High | 06-12 | 21 | · |
| WALTON VIRTUAL SCHOOL WCSD | Defuniak Springs | Combined | KG-12 | 7 | · |
| CONTRACTED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES | Miramar | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| EMERALD COAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | Defuniak Springs | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| WALTON COUNTY JAIL PROGRAM | Defuniak Springs | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| WALTON VIRTUAL SCHOOL FULL TIME | Defuniak Springs | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Walton County
About Walton County
In Florida, Walton County is a middle-population county of about 82,948 residents. 26 public schools across the county instructs about 12,069 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $81,986, roughly 35% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 20% above the Florida median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Walton County is made up of 8 elementary schools (4,981 students), 3 middle schools (2,458), 11 high schools (3,576), and 4 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Walton County is WALTON, which alone enrolls about 12,069 students.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment expanded 16%: 10,355 students in SY 2020-21 versus 12,007 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 20 to 19 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Walton County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data