Collegiate and Niceville High Schools have once again exceeded the state’s average for graduating students.

Collegiate (100%) graduated all of its students in the 22-23 cohort – meaning they have graduated every student every year, with the exception of the 18-19 school year, when they graduated 98.9% of their students. 

Niceville High School graduated 97.4% of its students in the 22-23 cohort, an increase from 16-17, when they graduated 95.7% of their pupils. 

To be clear, both of Niceville’s public schools have far exceeded the bar regarding graduating students. Okaloosa County Schools in general (87.5%) and Florida Schools (87.3%). Nationally, high schools graduate about 86% of students. 

“Over the last five years, the College has demonstrated an impressively high graduation rate,” expressed Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Northwest Florida State College. “This achievement underscores our commitment to academic excellence and attests to the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff, and most importantly, our hard-working students. Our graduation rate is more than just a statistic; it is a testament to our collective pursuit of academic success and higher learning.”

Marcus Chambers, the Superintendent of Okaloosa County School District, which includes Niceville High School, praised the teachers and other staffers who he says are essential to student performance. 

“So when you look at our six traditional high schools, they do very well on their under-graduation rate. Anywhere from 91.7, I believe, all the way up towards 98% graduation rate,” said Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers. To do that, it takes a lot. So first of all, you gotta have teachers who are doing a great job connecting with kids and building those relationships, but it’s also what happens in that front office with those guidance counselors. They do a great job connecting with students, calling them up, [asking] ‘are we behind on a course?’ ‘Are we behind on a state assessment that has to be passed by state law?’ So it’s really wrapping your arms around kids, every kid literally.”

“Graduating high school is important for any student’s future,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “It’s the culmination of many years of dedicated learning, and an accomplishment that prepares students for good jobs, for college admissions and for a better all-around future. 

Just 20 years ago, more than four of ten high school students in Florida did not earn a high school diploma, according to the State Department of Education’s website.