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Okaloosa schools keep A rating; district reports gains in proficiency and graduation rates
Summary
Okaloosa County School District maintained its A rating under Florida's accountability system and reported increases across several academic measures, district leaders said at a June 23 workshop.
The Okaloosa County School Board on June 23 reviewed district academic results showing the district maintained an overall A rating under the state'administered accountability system and posted gains in several subject areas and measures.
Superintendent Chambers told the board the district'wide total point score rose from 772 to 793, a 21'point increase, and that the share of schools earning A or B grades rose from 86% to 92%. "I could not be more proud of our teachers, of our support staff, of our principals and administrators," Chambers said.
The presentation highlighted subject'level changes: English language arts (ELA) proficiency rose from 58% (2023) to 64% (2025); math proficiency rose modestly overall (65% in 2023 to 68% in 2025); science increased to 67% in 2025. District leaders said grade'level and course placement changes affected some results: the district moved some students into higher'level math (algebra/geometry) earlier, which reduced eighth'grade math scores while increasing readiness for higher'level courses.
Officials noted one area of decline this year: U.S. history scores fell after a programmatic change that shifted which grade levels took the U.S. history assessment. "This year we had a change in how we administered U.S. History," Chambers said, and staff said the change (two grade levels taking the U.S. history test this year rather than one) likely contributed to the dip.
The board also heard that 92% of schools earned A or B ratings and that several individual schools moved up a letter grade: Choctaw moved from C to B; Baker School moved from B to A; Bruner moved from B to A for the first time in about a decade. Chamber and other board members singled out schools that improved as evidence of progress after focused efforts.
Graduation rates across the district remained at 88% year over year; when the six main high schools are evaluated alone, the board said the combined rate is about 94.8%. District staff said coding of students who transfer between districts or to nontraditional sites affects the overall number reported by the state and that they are reviewing the "W codes" used by registrars to ensure accurate state reporting.
Board members asked for and received explanations of how the state's school grade calculation differs from a classroom'style percentage; district staff explained the state combines proficiency, learning gains, acceleration points and graduation rates into a composite score rather than a straight 0'100 test percentage.
Chambers and staff identified remaining priorities for the coming year: continued focus on K—3 early literacy (grade 3 ELA), eighth'grade math, and algebra/geometry at the secondary level, along with targeted supports for schools that remain at lower letter grades.
The board received the report for information and discussion; no formal board action on the grades was recorded in the workshop minutes.
