Summary:
Zip code 32567 is served by a single school, Laurel Hill School, a small Pre-K through 12th grade alternative school with 432 students in the highly-rated Okaloosa School District (ranked 12th out of 70 districts in Florida).
Laurel Hill School presents a striking contrast in performance. While it serves a high-poverty student body (69.21% free/reduced lunch) and struggles with a 33.1% chronic absenteeism rate, it achieves a strong 94.4% graduation rate and excels in high school End-of-Course exams. In the most recent data, the school posted 100% proficiency in Civics, 89% in US History, and 80% in Biology 1—all significantly above district and state averages. However, the school faces clear challenges in earlier grades. Elementary English Language Arts proficiency is low, with only 40% of 3rd graders and 50% of 4th graders meeting standards. Middle school performance is mixed: 8th grade math is a standout at 79% proficiency, but 8th grade science (41%) and 8th grade ELA (44%) lag well behind district averages.
The data suggests a school of extremes where a small enrollment (432 students) can cause significant year-over-year score volatility. The high chronic absenteeism rate is likely a key factor driving lower elementary and middle school performance, yet the school appears to have effective intervention and credit recovery programs that help students who persist to high school achieve strong outcomes. With a low student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 and per-student spending of $13,847, the school has resources for personalized instruction, but the data indicates a clear "middle school dip" before a turnaround in high school. Parents should note that while the school delivers exceptional results for its older students in social studies and science, it faces significant hurdles in building early literacy and maintaining consistent attendance across all grade levels.
Thank you for your feedback!