Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

South Walton High School

Q: Is South Walton High School a good school?

South Walton High School ranks 157 th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

157^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 81% of Florida high schools

Summary

South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, is a large public high school serving 1,127 students in grades 9-12 within the highly-rated Walton County School District, which ranks in the top 15% of Florida districts. This school stands out for its near-perfect graduation rate, achieving 100% for the 2024-2025 school year, and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.4%—far better than the state average of 31.4% and significantly lower than nearby Destin High School (29.1%) and Freeport Senior High School (33.3%). Students consistently perform well above state averages in core subjects, with proficiency rates of 89% in US History, 85% in Biology, 76% in Algebra 1, and 74% in 10th-grade ELA, all exceeding Florida's benchmarks.

While South Walton is a top-tier comprehensive high school, it operates in a district with two smaller, elite schools that achieve even more extraordinary results. Seaside Neighborhood School (4.7 miles away) and the Magnet Innovation Center (11 miles away) both boast 100% graduation rates and test scores often near 100% proficiency, though they serve smaller, highly motivated student bodies. This context explains why South Walton's state ranking has slipped slightly from its peak of 70th in 2020-2021 to 157th in 2025-2026—it is being outpaced by these niche schools, not by traditional high schools. The school's per-student spending of $12,252 is higher than Destin High ($9,581) but lower than Freeport ($14,882) and the Magnet Innovation Center ($23,387), suggesting that high performance here is driven by strong school culture and community support rather than just funding.

The data reveals a clear "Walton advantage," as all schools in the Walton district significantly outperform Destin High School in the Okaloosa district across every metric, including graduation rates, test scores, and absenteeism. For parents, South Walton offers a reliable, high-quality education with a strong sense of community, though those seeking the absolute highest performance may also consider the specialized options nearby. Overall, this school provides a safe, engaging environment where students consistently succeed, making it a solid choice for families in the Santa Rosa Beach area.

1,127

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,252

Per pupil spending ?

20.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

645 Greenway Trl
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

(850) 622-5020

District: Walton

Feeder schools for South Walton High School:

Elementary:	Dune Lakes Elementary School
	Freeport Elementary School
	Maude Saunders Elementary School
	Mossy Head School
	More...
	Van R. Butler Elementary School
	West Defuniak Elementary School
Middle:	Emerald Coast Middle School
	Freeport Middle School
	Walton Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.1%

Hispanic:

20.5%

Two or more races:

2.8%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare South Walton High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 79th percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (75% vs 64% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of Florida high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the Florida average (92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg77%

Florida avg64%

157^th of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 6High Schools in the Walton

10^th of 70Walton among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	68.0	157 of 838	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	76.2	105 of 844	87.6%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	86 of 807	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	79.8	73 of 792	90.8%	★★★★★
2022	77.7	81 of 774	89.5%	★★★★☆
2021	77.9	70 of 746	90.6%	★★★★★
2019	76.5	77 of 734	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	71.9	109 of 716	84.8%	★★★★☆
2017	74.4	85 of 714	88.1%	★★★★☆
2016	64.7	148 of 693	78.6%	★★★★☆
2014	81.3	72 of 687	89.5%	★★★★☆
2013	68.2	141 of 648	78.2%	★★★★☆
2012	62.4	143 of 606	76.4%	★★★★☆
2011	73.3	157 of 622	74.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	115 of 620	81.5%	★★★★☆
2009	80.3	94 of 587	84.0%	★★★★☆
2008	79.9	98 of 577	83.0%	★★★★☆
2007	81.5	85 of 563	84.9%	★★★★☆
2006	72.9	111 of 477	76.7%	★★★★☆
2005	71.8	129 of 487	73.5%	★★★★☆
2004	75.2	105 of 484	78.3%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History89%+15 vs state

Biology 185%+11 vs state

Algebra 176%+13 vs state

Geometry68%+12 vs state

English Language Arts66%+6 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate South Walton High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near South Walton High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)				Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Walton High School	Public	9-12	645 Greenway Trl	Santa Rosa Beach	32459	Walton County	Walton	No	No	No	No	(850) 622-5020	1,127	55	20.5	20.4%	813 (72.1%)	29 (2.6%)	231 (20.5%)	14 (1.2%)	9 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (2.8%)	68	157^th of 838 public high schools	81.3%		76.2	105^th of 844 public high schools	87.6%	52					58.0	74.0							76.0	68.0	85.0	89.0		$12,252	$245	$12,007
Seaside Neighborhood School	Public, Charter	5-12	10 Smolian Circle	Santa Rosa Beach	32459	Walton County	Walton	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 231-0396	501	27	18.5	3.2%	425 (84.8%)	4 (0.8%)	38 (7.6%)	15 (3.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.4%)	87.3	30^th of 838 public high schools	96.4%		87.4	34^th of 844 public high schools	96.0%	4	74.0	90.0	94.0	96.0	88.0	91.0	80.0	95.0	100.0	93.0	80.0	94.0	96.0	90.0	98.0	93.0	100.0	$11,607	$00	$11,607
Magnet Innovation Center	Public	9-12	133 South Watersound Pkwy	Inlet Beach	32461	Walton County	Walton	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 622-5020	117	7	16.4	10.3%	95 (81.2%)	1 (0.9%)	12 (10.3%)	3 (2.6%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.3%)	88.5	22^nd of 838 public high schools	97.4%		92.2	10^th of 844 public high schools	98.8%	12					98.0	90.0								88.0	100.0	94.0		$23,387	$488	$22,898
Contracted Residential Services	Public	6-12	101a Business Center Dr	Miramar	32550	Walton County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 863-4160	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Freeport Senior High School	Public	9-12	12615 Us Highway 331 S	Freeport	32439	Walton County	Walton	No	No	No	No	(850) 892-1200	677	42	16.1	39.3%	484 (71.5%)	16 (2.4%)	141 (20.8%)	9 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	24 (3.5%)	73.4	114^th of 838 public high schools	86.4%		73	128^th of 844 public high schools	84.8%	14					68.0	72.0							63.0	81.0	98.0	89.0		$14,882	$317	$14,567
Destin High School	Public, Charter	9-12	4325 Commons Dr	Destin	32541	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 424-1664	599	30	19.9	21.0%	445 (74.3%)	48 (8.0%)	60 (10.0%)	11 (1.8%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (5.2%)	50.3	337^th of 838 public high schools	59.8%		54.5	273^rd of 844 public high schools	67.7%	64					55.0	57.0							48.0	70.0	73.0	76.0		$9,581	$119	$9,461

Frequently Asked Questions about South Walton High School

How many students attend South Walton High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,127 students attended South Walton High School.

What district is South Walton High School in?

Walton

Is South Walton High School a good school?

South Walton High School ranks 157^th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of South Walton High School?

Students at South Walton High School are 72% White, 20% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into South Walton High School?

South Walton High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dune Lakes Elementary School
Elementary : Freeport Elementary School
Elementary : Maude Saunders Elementary School
Elementary : Mossy Head School
Elementary : Van R. Butler Elementary School
Elementary : West Defuniak Elementary School
Middle : Emerald Coast Middle School
Middle : Freeport Middle School
Middle : Walton Middle School

Rate South Walton High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida High School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for South Walton High School!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.