The Florida Department of Education has released school and district grades for the 2025-2026 school year, and the Walton County School District has once again earned an A district grade while tying for the #2 ranking among Florida's 67 school districts. The distinction marks the ninth consecutive year that Walton County has earned an A district designation, continuing a tradition of academic excellence and reinforcing the district's position among Florida's highest-performing school systems.
The district's continued success reflects a sustained commitment to high expectations, innovative instruction, and a relentless focus on student achievement. Walton County is one of only nine school districts in Florida with no schools earning a C grade. The Florida Department of Education calculates school grades using a comprehensive accountability model that measures student achievement, learning gains, middle school acceleration, graduation rate, and college and career acceleration.
"This achievement is the result of thousands of people choosing excellence every single day," said Superintendent A. Russell Hughes. "Our teachers inspire, our students rise to the challenge, our School Board and families support learning, and our staff works tirelessly behind the scenes to make success possible. Congratulations to everyone involved in Keeping the Charge! "
School Grades
Paxton School - A
Mossy Head School - A
West DeFuniak Elementary - A
Maude Saunders Elementary - B
Walton Middle School - A
Walton High School - A
Freeport High School - A
Freeport Middle School - A
Freeport Elementary - A
South Walton High School - A
Dune Lakes Elementary - A
Emerald Coast Middle School - A
Van R. Butler Elementary - A
Magnet Innovation Center - A