The Secret One School District Found to Avoid Dropping Test Scores – And What Okaloosa Schools Can Learn From It.
Only Walton County has managed to avoid a downward trend in test scores over the last 20 years in Florida. How’d they do it?
Okaloosa County Places In Top 10 In State FAST Testing
The Florida Department of Education released the 2023-24 results for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) and End of Course Exams on July 1, 2024. Okaloosa Schools ranked 10th out of 67 districts, with top performances in 5th, 7th, and 8th-grade Reading, 7th and 8th-grade Mathematics, and 8th-grade Science. Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised the dedication of the school community and highlighted the need for ongoing improvement despite some areas where pass rates fell below the state average.
Parents: ‘Okaloosa STEMM Principal Broke The Law.’ Now, They Say They Want Justice for Their Son With Autism.
Okaloosa STEMM Academy, lauded as one of Florida’s top middle schools, faces scrutiny from a family who claims their son, José, experienced harassment under the administration of Principal Dr. Scheree Martin. Despite José’s high academic performance, his parents allege Martin’s disciplinary actions targeted their son due to his autism and ADD, leading them to withdraw him from the school. Their ongoing battle highlights concerns about the school’s handling of students with special needs and has prompted investigations by both the Okaloosa County School District and the Florida Department of Education.
Valparaiso’s Lewis School Welcomes New Principal
Dr. Nathaniel Chatman, the Florida State and West Florida alum, plans to restore The Lewis School’s A-rating, utilizing data from the past two years to empower teachers and enhance student outcomes.
