Summary:
In zip code 32580, Valparaiso, Florida, there is one middle school, Okaloosa Stemm Center, serving grades 6 through 8 with a total enrollment of 366 students.
Okaloosa Stemm Center is a standout school in every measurable category, achieving the #1 ranking in the state of Florida for three consecutive years. The school's proficiency rates are exceptionally high, often reaching 100% and never falling below 96% across all subjects and grade levels for the two most recent school years. This is a stark contrast to both the Okaloosa district and state averages. The chronic absenteeism rate is remarkably low at just 5.7% for the 2023-2024 school year, which is less than one-third of the district rate (20.5%) and nearly six times lower than the state average (31.4%). The school has a relatively low percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (27.87%) and per-student spending is $11,157.
The school's designation as a "STEMm Center" is clearly reflected in its performance, with the most dramatic outperformance seen in STEM subjects. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, the school achieved 100% proficiency in Geometry and 8th Grade Science, while the state averages were 56% and 52%, respectively. However, the school achieves near-perfect scores in English Language Arts (96-100%) and Civics (100%) as well, indicating a holistic, high-quality educational environment. The school's performance is not a one-year fluke, as test score data from the 2024-2025 school year is nearly identical to the 2025-2026 data, with all scores remaining between 96% and 100%. This consistency, combined with the three-year #1 state ranking, proves that Okaloosa Stemm Center has established a sustainable model for academic excellence.
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