It is never too early to begin thinking about the step your student takes after graduation. Florida Prepaid has plans that begin at just $29/Month.
Focused on encouraging families to save as early and affordably as possible, our partner Florida Prepaid College College Savings Plans has reduced Prepaid Plan monthly prices for newborns and infants to the lowest in more than a decade.
Prepaid Plans allow families to lock in the cost of college with fixed monthly payments. A risk-free 1-Year University Plan now starts at just $29/month for the Prepaid Plan Open Enrollment period from February 1 - April 30, 2025. The reduced prices result in savings of up to $850 per plan for a 1-Year University Plan – up to $3,400 in savings for four years.\
Prepaid Plans are made to fit growing families:
• Use in-state or nationwide at public, private, trade and technical schools
• Complements scholarships and financial aid
• Transfer to another student or cancel anytime
• Earnings grow tax-free
Every child deserves higher education. Florida Prepaid’s goal is to make it possible for every Florida family to save simply and affordably. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3X9gYzs
And Boat #3 is on display at West DeFuniak Elementary! These young people slashed referrals and increased attendance! Now - these schools will enjoy the boats for the rest of the 9 weeks. Where will they go during the summer? We'll see when test scores come out...let the games begin!
Boat #2 is staying at PAXTON! The Paxton Middle School students showed that they're In The Boat during the 3rd Nine Weeks by making sure they were in class and keeping their behavior on point! There's one boat left today, and it's headed to an elementary school - let gooooo!
700 young scientists from throughout Florida competed last week at the 70th State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida in Lakeland. Five of the seven WCSD students that competed came home with awards!
• Elisabeth Wallace - Outstanding Project Award from Brevard South Regional Science & Engineering Fair
• Adam Clark - Microbiology Category Senior Division, Recognition Award
• Summer House - Physics & Astronomy Category Senior Division, Honorable Mention
• Tate Lillian - Engineering Category Senior Division, 4th Place
From Freeport Middle School:
• Natasha Duffley - Sierra Club of Florida Cantwell Award and Environmental Engineering Category Junior Division, 4th Place
Congratulations to these incredible young people!
The boats are on the move again! Our first stop was back at the WISE Center! The Pre-K students at wise were the most well-behaved students in the District during the third nine-weeks, and showed the highest attendance percentage as well! Way to go WISE! Stay tuned to see where the other three boats end up!
We believe iron sharpens iron, and that great teaching is a cause worth celebrating! ECET2 ( Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) is held each year at the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center each year and showcases some of the brightest teachers in our District. The teachers share the tricks of the trade AND get to hear from educational powerhouses like Dr. John Hodge. We certainly have a lot of EPIC teaching to celebrate in Walton County!
Summer time is quickly approaching, and if you have a student age 2nd through 8th grade, we have some amazing opportunities at our STEAM school - the Magnet Innovation Center! Check out the different offerings in the areas of theatre, engineering, science, and robotics! You can apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/sj5TBdeTnu
It can be easy to overlook those who work tirelessly in the background to ensure a smooth operation, but today we're saying a big thank you to those who work in our transportation department. Every bus and District vehicle you see in the county is maintained and serviced by a crew of dedicated individuals who put the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff as their first priority!
Scooby dropped by the District office today to meet with Superintendent Hughes about the importance of a great breakfast! We're celebrating National School Breakfast week. Scooby helped cook breakfast this morning but didn't have any Scooby snacks leftover! A great breakfast is paramount to learning and our Food Service department helps ensure our kids not only HAVE food, but have nutritious food that tastes delicious!
We hope everyone has had a wonderful time relaxing during spring break! Classes resume Monday, the 24th. Let's get back in the boat and row hard toward the goal!
It's SPRING BREAK! Enjoy the break from March 17th - March 21st! Be safe and ready to row harder than ever when classes resume on March 24th!
Elementary students from across the District got to play along with the Sinfonia Gulfcoast for the Carnegie LinkUp concert! They have been practicing their recorder parts all year to show off their ability to swing! Did YOU know the orchestra could swing? Academics are important, but the WCSD is committed to developing the whole child!
Reminder: today is an early release day! Spring Break is almost here!
Superintendent Hughes dropped by Emerald Coast Middle School this week to make sure everyone was still rowing hard toward to the goal - because there is no seat for average in Walton County!
The Florida Art Education Association celebrates Youth Art Month in March, so let's take a moment to recognize one of WCSD's stellar artists, Khloe Smith! Khloe was recently selected as a winner of the Drop Savers contest. Every year the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) sponsors the statewide "Drop Savers” Water Conservation Poster Contest. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both. The contest allows students to promote water awareness and the importance of water conservation in their daily routines. Khloe's division is sponsored by the South Walton Utility Company. Way to go Khloe!
The Florida Art Education Association celebrates Youth Art Month in March - so let's highlight WCSD's very own Khloe Smith for being selected as a winner of the Drop Savers contest. Every year the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) sponsors the statewide "Drop Savers” Water Conservation Poster Contest. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both. The contest allows students to promote water awareness and the importance of water conservation in their daily routines. Khloe's division is sponsored by the South Walton Utility Company. Way to go Khloe!
Maude Saunders Elementary is doing amazing work for our talented scholars! Everyday is full in the WCSD! Last week Superintendent Hughes dropped by while 1st Grade teachers were chopping wood at the PLC table flanked by Principal Neale, retired teacher Mrs. Infinger, and of course our friends and partners; Billy and Kathy from Food For Thought who were making sure kids have food over the weekend . It’s not easy on this boat, but we keep the oars in - rowing in the same direction- for The Goal! #Epilympic
When you're in Walter (Dobie) Miller's class, you're not sitting on the sidelines talking about welding, you're in the booth making it happen! Did we mention Dobie has been named Regional Instructor of the Year by the American Welding Society? Head over to www.ectc.edu and change your life today!
❗️BIG NEWS❗️
Walton County ranks #1 in education across the entire state of Florida according the Florida Policy Institute’s 2025 Child Well-Being Index.
The Florida Policy Institute (FPI) 2025 Child Well-Being Index recently ranked Walton County #1 in education. FPI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to providing accurate data which informs policy revision that improves the lives of all Floridians.
The Florida Policy Institute uses four criteria to assess standing:
• 3 & 4 year olds not enrolled in school
• 4th grade English Language Arts scores
• 8th grade math scores
• Graduation rate
FPI looks at the percentage of students who are not on grade level in English Language Arts and Mathematics according to FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) test scores and combines levels 1 and 2 for their calculations. Similarly, 4th grade English Language Arts test scores are analyzed to find how many students are not on grade level. We are In the Boat for the Goal in Walton County and understand that for one to cross the finish line all must cross the finish line. Eighth grade mathematics is calculated using the third Progress Monitoring interval, and graduation data is based on a cohort, which calculates the percentage of students who graduate within four years of their first full year of enrollment in the ninth grade.
This is the second year that Walton County has been ranked #1 by the Florida Policy Institute for its successes in education. Superintendent A. Russell Hughes reminds us that “Accolades are always wonderful, but it is important to look further to see the students, teachers, staff, and administrators who work tirelessly to create the conditions that lead to these wonderful accolades. We are fortunate to have the best students in the country here in Walton County, and a school board to match. Congratulations to all!”
Since 2017, the Walton County School District has seen unprecedented academic progressing rising to 3rd in the State of Florida from 35th regarding academic testing and increasing the graduation rate over 20%.
Career and Technical Education is a pathway near and dear to Superintendent Hughes' heart - no matter what the path, students should be as prepared and confident as possible to take that next step in life. Emerald Coast Technical College has numerous programs that get students into the workforce and ready to change their lives. Check out these cosmetology students getting hands-on experience! If you're looking to change your life, head over to www.ectc.edu and get more information!
