SoWal schools

The only other school on 30A is Emerald Coast Middle School, which is behind Butler Elementary until a new middle school is built. (Don't know how far the plans for that have gone.) Besides Butler, Seaside and ECMS there is Historic Bay Elementary in Point Washington (my alma mater). Then, when elementary and middle school is over, we have South Walton High School on 331.

We our schools!

And they are all A+ schools!!!

Thanks for the info!
Tell me this....which high schools do you recommend in Walton Co.? My son will start high school next year and that may dictate our move.

I'll be the first to say it -not everything is so peachy in 30A education . The housing is so expensive and teacher salaries are so low that there is a huge teacher turnover rate and many of the teachers are recent graduates - so if you're kids need more than an instructor - say a mentor maybe - you'd better start looking for a good church, too :roll: ...

Thanks for the info!
Tell me this....which high schools do you recommend in Walton Co.? My son will start high school next year and that may dictate our move.

I would say South Walton High..

Thanks for the info!
Tell me this....which high schools do you recommend in Walton Co.? My son will start high school next year and that may dictate our move.

So are you only interested in high school?

South Walton Montessori Academy - www.southwaltonmontessori.com

Walton County School board official website - www.walton.k12.fl.us

Seaside Neighborhood School - http://www.seasideschool.net

All of our schools are good, but if you move to the southern end of the county, he would go to South Walton High. If you move to the Freeport area, Freeport High is an excellent choice as well.

As to teachers - many of the teachers that were at Butler when my son went thru were either already firmly established in the area, or lived in Freeport or DeFuniak Springs. I suspect that there is turnover just about everywhere you go, as teacher salaries in our neighboring counties are not much better (contrary to reports published by the neighboring counties).

kurt - high school is for my son. I am certified to teach 1-8 and will add an early childhood/kindergarten endorsement if I pass the test I'm taking next month. Florida has reciprocity agreements with Louisiana so I'll be K-6.
Also, what do you know about the Seaside school? I know it's a charter school with small numbers and multiple grades per teacher(I think). It would be my nirvana to get to go to work at Seaside each day and do what I love most--educating children.

shallowsnole - Thanks for letting me know about Freeport. That is also an area we are interested in. From what I have read, Okaloosa pays more than Walton. I don't know if that is accurate, but it's really not just about the money. I want a school system that values the teacher as a person with committed principals. A good principal sets the tone for the entire school.

Seaside is a charter middle school - grades 6 - 8.

Have you seen this web site yet?

http://www.teachinflorida.com/default.asp

Some good info there including job postings and salary info. (though I'm not getting much from the job search function)

Walton schools have made some serious improvements in recent years, though they're still seen as a bit behind Santa Rosa and Okaloosa.

In terms of the most job opportunities, I'd look into Santa Rosa County- they've got a lot of school growth going on right now (I'd say they've been averaging two new schools built every three years) seems like a motivated parent base, and the cost of decent, liveable housing is a lot lower than SoWal is. And you're close enough to SoWal to spend a lot of your weekend there.

Thanks for the tip beachmouse. I am planning to hit all three school boards (Santa Rosa, Oka, Walton) when I am there in Oct. I am sort of intimidated by doing the job hunt thing long distance, but I'm hoping my resume will help me. I figure there's gotta be just one little job for me in there somewhere.

Thanks for the tip beachmouse. I am planning to hit all three school boards (Santa Rosa, Oka, Walton) when I am there in Oct. I am sort of intimidated by doing the job hunt thing long distance, but I'm hoping my resume will help me. I figure there's gotta be just one little job for me in there somewhere.

Good luck miramargal! I teachers!!!!

Seaside is a public charter school and has a total enrollment of 113 children for grades 6-8. Typically double the number of children than we have space for, apply to get in. It is a lottery system to get in, so students have about a 50/50 chance. There are 8 teachers that are excellent.

Walton County schools are continuing to grow and it seems that they are always looking for qualified teachers. With the recent reopening of Bay Elementary for K-5, they have hired a ton of teachers and they might not be done.

From what I understand, South Walton High has improved greatly over the last year and we're hoping that it will continue to do so. Our children will be going there in a few years.

kurt - high school is for my son. I am certified to teach 1-8 and will add an early childhood/kindergarten endorsement if I pass the test I'm taking next month. Florida has reciprocity agreements with Louisiana so I'll be K-6.
Also, what do you know about the Seaside school? I know it's a charter school with small numbers and multiple grades per teacher(I think). It would be my nirvana to get to go to work at Seaside each day and do what I love most--educating children.

shallowsnole - Thanks for letting me know about Freeport. That is also an area we are interested in. From what I have read, Okaloosa pays more than Walton. I don't know if that is accurate, but it's really not just about the money. I want a school system that values the teacher as a person with committed principals. A good principal sets the tone for the entire school.

Good luck and I hope you find the perfect school for you. My daughter teaches 1st grade and LOVES it. Let us know where you end up.

I am a very involved volunteer at Emerald Coast Middle School and will rave about the outstanding education that my sons receive there. The leadership is outstanding and the teachers are not all straight out of college. The new librarian is even happy! (ever met a miserable school librarian? they're the worst, and what a way to make kids hate reading).

My older son will be in 9th grade at South Walton this coming year, and from what I can tell, that school has vastly improved over the past year.

While school always starts too early in the summer, we're looking forward to a good school year ahead.

We took our son to ECMS last Friday to check out his new school- what a great place! Everyone we met was so helpful and nice. We are coming in October from a middle school with almost 1300 kids to ECMS with about 300, so it will be like private school. I think Will is going to like it there, and he thinks so too! It is hard to move in 8th grade, but we are very confident that the rest of his 8th grade year will be good here. I think the size will be very helpful in making sure that his teachers really know him.

I looked through the PTA volunteer notebook in the front lobby- wow! Now here is a PTA to really get involved in! The "get involved" ideas and activities were useful and fresh- not the same old tired PTA stuff that is done here. I'm looking forward to signing up for a few things.

Thanks for the tip beachmouse. I am planning to hit all three school boards (Santa Rosa, Oka, Walton) when I am there in Oct. I am sort of intimidated by doing the job hunt thing long distance, but I'm hoping my resume will help me. I figure there's gotta be just one little job for me in there somewhere.

A good friend moved to Destin(her mom is really sick) and works at Destin Elementary....they hired quite a few teachers this year and she is quite happy. SHe got her foot in the door by tutoring in the afternoon.

Good luck with the job hunt.

I have a question for those of you with children at ECMS and Seaside - what foreign languages programs do they offer children? I know my sons are learning a little bit of Spanish at Bay but I want them to take French language courses.

I have a question for those of you with children at ECMS and Seaside - what foreign languages programs do they offer children? I know my sons are learning a little bit of Spanish at Bay but I want them to take French language courses.

We were told Spanish and German at ECMS- I don't remember hearing anything about French. I took German in college- it was very challenging. Will has been taking Spanish and will probably continue it.

Does anyone know if the South Walton High offers Latin?

ECMS has been wonderful. We are in our 2nd year there and my daughter comes out happy everyday- how many people can say that in MIDDLE school!!! The teachers seem to actually like what they are doing- it makes such a difference!

Children at Seaside Neighborhood School all are required to take Spanish for the 3 years they are there. I don't know what the high school offers.

Glad to see this thread get revived!

Jdarg, ECMS is a great school and I'm sure your son will enjoy it. I can't wait to have you as a volunteer either! We've got lots of different things going on and planned for this coming year, some fund-raising (Sally Foster gift wrap sales), some fun(n) (Bridge Tournaments and lessons), and others just downright helping out (School Dances). I'm sorry I wasn't there last Friday when you stopped by - I would have loved meeting you!

Indigo Jill, the electives at ECMS vary each year depending upon the teachers and their interests and specialties. Currently, the electives are Spanish, German, extra P.E., Dance, Art, Chorus, Band, Technology and Journalism. French is not one of the electives this year. Students who score poorly on the FCATs are required to take extra English or Math for their elective.

Jdarg, no, the high school does not offer latin. They don't have a teacher for it. I asked when enrolling my 9th grader this year. I wish they did (although I am sure Jack is glad they don't!)

Beachmom, do we know each other? Our children probably are in some classes together!

For all of you ECMS parents out there, if you're not on my e-mail list, PM me with your info and I'll put you on. I hold the list very close - you will not get any spam. (If you did not receive an e-mail earlier this week about the next 2 PTO meetings, you are not on the current list)

Sunshine, aka Garner Chandler, aka ECMS PTO President

Yes!! Didn't know that was you- I'm Hannah C.'s mom. Wish I could do more at the school- tried to help out with the art program, but was not very successful

Hi Beachmom,
I think you were successful in helping out with the art program - it is one of the most popular electives this year! :clap_1:

Perhaps next summer we can get the art camp organized.

Thanks and get on the e-mail list so that I can keep you posted of the PTO's activities -

I have a daughter that is a junior at South Walton High School. We transferred from the north end of the county to the south end about 2 weeks before she was scheduled to start high school. The staff and administrators have been very encouraging and helpful where my daughter is concerned. She has been in gifted classes in the state of Missouri all her life. When she moved to Florida, she attended Walton Middle School. I was concerned with that school because noone seemed to take notice of her gifted talents that was listed on her transcripts.....needless to say, after some researching of schools and school grades, etc....we transferred her to SWHS...it has been a great experience.....she is continuing on with success in her academics. The administrators, Mr. Hope in particular, take a special interest in helping to make sure she is taking the appropriate classes to keep her challenged.....She is currently in the top 5% of her class and is prepping for her SAT's...she has taken both dual enrollment classes, and honors classes, and all the teachers, counselors, administrators take an interest in her academics and her other activities (which include student council, and assortment of service clubs, athletics, and academic clubs)...needless to say, I can not say enough positive things for the South Walton High School.

Just sign me a proud parent!!