Okaloosa County School District Graduation Rate Climbs to 91 Percent
The Okaloosa County School District is celebrating a significant rise in its graduation rate for the 2024–2025 school year, reaching 91 percent, up from 87.7 percent the previous year. The increase reflects both statewide gains and the district’s continued focus on helping students stay on track toward earning a high school diploma.
District leaders credit the improvement to strengthened student support systems, expanded academic pathways, and engagement strategies designed to meet students where they are.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and educators for this significant growth in Okaloosa County’s graduation rate,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. “Increasing from 87.7 percent to 91 percent in just one year reflects the hard work, perseverance, and commitment of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the strong partnerships we share with families and our community. While we celebrate this progress, we remain focused on ensuring every student graduates prepared for success beyond high school.”
The district plans to continue building on this momentum by expanding opportunities that support academic achievement, career readiness, and postsecondary success.
Okaloosa Schools Earn National AP Honor Roll Recognition
The Okaloosa County School District announced that Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School and Niceville High School have been named to the 2025 College Board AP School Honor Roll, a national distinction recognizing schools that expand access to Advanced Placement coursework while supporting strong student outcomes.
- Choctawhatchee High School earned Gold recognition.
- Fort Walton Beach High School earned Silver recognition.
- Niceville High School earned Silver recognition.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes high schools that meet rigorous benchmarks in college readiness and student achievement, based on data from their most recent graduating class. Schools are evaluated on broad access to AP coursework, student success on AP exams, and sustained participation in advanced academics.
“Recognition on the AP School Honor Roll is a testament to the dedication of our students, teachers, and school leaders,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Choctawhatchee High School’s Gold distinction and the Silver recognition earned by Fort Walton Beach and Niceville High Schools reflect our district’s continued commitment to academic excellence and preparing students for future success.”
OCSD Names 2027 Teacher of the Year
The Okaloosa County School District has named Kimberly Day-Scanlon, a 4th- and 5th-grade ESE CBA teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, as its 2027 Teacher of the Year.
Day-Scanlon holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in inclusive education/special education from Nazareth College. Known for her dedication to students with unique learning needs, she was selected for her compassion, skill, and impact in the classroom.
“Ms. Day-Scanlon exemplifies the heart of teaching in Okaloosa County,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Her dedication to students, particularly those with unique learning needs, reflects the very best of our profession. She represents the compassion, skill, and excellence we see every day in classrooms across our district, and we are incredibly proud to honor her as our Teacher of the Year.”
Also recognized as Teacher of the Year runners-up were:
- Kimberly Moran, art teacher, Fort Walton Beach High School
- Sarah Theres, music teacher, Florosa Elementary School
This year’s program included 38 nominees, one from each OCSD school. As the district honoree, Day-Scanlon will represent Okaloosa County in the statewide Teacher of the Year program and participate in Florida Department of Education recognition events.
