Dune Lakes Elementary is celebrating National School Lunch Week with style!
It's National School Lunch Week! Our students are headed around the world as they grab their school lunch passport! Today, students at FES are tasting Mexico with Taco Tuesday.
Did you know that tacos are thought to come from Mexico, long before the Spanish arrived. Ancient Mexicans used freshly made, soft, flat corn tortillas and filled them with things like fish and cooked organs. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they introduced new ingredients like pork, beef, and cheese, which were incorporated into the existing dishes, leading to the evolution of the modern taco!
Mmmmm, look at those fresh ingredients!
The Walton County School District is proud to announce that
five schools have been named Schools of Excellence for the 2024–2025 school year by the
Florida Department of Education. This distinction is awarded to schools performing in the top 20
percent statewide in academic achievement for at least two of the last three years.
The schools recognized with this honor are Dune Lakes Elementary, Van R. Butler Elementary,
Emerald Coast Middle School, Freeport High School, and South Walton High School.
In addition, Walton County School District itself has again been designated an Academically
High-Performing District, meeting rigorous criteria for school grades, financial responsibility,
and class size compliance. This success highlights our community’s widespread commitment to
The Walton County Way, or EPIC. This distinction is further proof that we were all In the Boat
for the Goal for the 24-25 school year.
Once ranked in the middle of Florida districts (2015-2016), Walton County has continued to improve its standing for the last nine years. Walton now proudly sits among the top three districts in the state for academic performance, #2 for graduation rate, and #1 in Education according to the Florida Policy Institute.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes commended the accomplishment, stating:
“This designation speaks to what we can accomplish when everyone is In the Boat for The Goal, rowing in the same direction. Congratulations to our students, educators, school board, parents, and community partners for their EPIC commitment to our district.”
The 25-26 school year is off to an energetic start as students are Keeping the Charge Through DC Power. DC power flows from negative to positive, and Superintendent A. Russell Hughes is urging everyone to Keep the Charge and turn any negative into a positive this year.
five schools have been named Schools of Excellence for the 2024–2025 school year by the
Florida Department of Education. This distinction is awarded to schools performing in the top 20
percent statewide in academic achievement for at least two of the last three years.
The schools recognized with this honor are Dune Lakes Elementary, Van R. Butler Elementary,
Emerald Coast Middle School, Freeport High School, and South Walton High School.
In addition, Walton County School District itself has again been designated an Academically
High-Performing District, meeting rigorous criteria for school grades, financial responsibility,
and class size compliance. This success highlights our community’s widespread commitment to
The Walton County Way, or EPIC. This distinction is further proof that we were all In the Boat
for the Goal for the 24-25 school year.
Once ranked in the middle of Florida districts (2015-2016), Walton County has continued to improve its standing for the last nine years. Walton now proudly sits among the top three districts in the state for academic performance, #2 for graduation rate, and #1 in Education according to the Florida Policy Institute.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes commended the accomplishment, stating:
“This designation speaks to what we can accomplish when everyone is In the Boat for The Goal, rowing in the same direction. Congratulations to our students, educators, school board, parents, and community partners for their EPIC commitment to our district.”
The 25-26 school year is off to an energetic start as students are Keeping the Charge Through DC Power. DC power flows from negative to positive, and Superintendent A. Russell Hughes is urging everyone to Keep the Charge and turn any negative into a positive this year.
Yes, we WILL have school on Monday, October 13th (Columbus Day).
Check out the full official District calendar here:
https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/page/calendars
It's #SuperSelfieSunday! If you've been around for any time at all, you know Superintendent Hughes wants every child in the District to be in a SuperSelfie.
Have YOU been in a SuperSelfie?! Share it with us!
The District Office showed out in green today to Support South Walton High School Homecoming! The parade is today at 1:30, and the game is at 7pm! We will see you there!
Just a reminder - Friday is a Teacher Workday. Students are out while our teachers wrap up the 1st Nine Weeks.
October is a busy month! Save this image to ensure you don't miss a thing! Oh yea, tell your Principal how awesome they are sometime this month as well.
Walton County School District is seeking a skilled Facilities Planner to help shape the future of our schools. This role is all about long-range planning—analyzing growth, coordinating with community partners, and ensuring our schools have the space and resources to serve every student.
If you have a passion for planning, problem-solving, and making a direct impact on education in Walton County, we want to hear from you!
Check out the job description: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3957/Wcsd/27a5a88a-154b-4e6e-9843-b8c95ee08275/Facilities-Planner.pdf?disposition=inline
Apply Online: www.walton.k12.fl.us/employment
If you have a passion for planning, problem-solving, and making a direct impact on education in Walton County, we want to hear from you!
Check out the job description: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3957/Wcsd/27a5a88a-154b-4e6e-9843-b8c95ee08275/Facilities-Planner.pdf?disposition=inline
Apply Online: www.walton.k12.fl.us/employment
Van R. Butler Elementary turned up the flavor and the fun at this year’s Cultural Night!
The event highlighted the incredible diversity of the school community with families sharing dishes from their heritage that kept everyone coming back for seconds (and thirds!). Local partners joined in to celebrate and support Butler’s Hispanic community, while Emerald Coast Technical College Director Michael Smithart wowed families with opportunities available through ECTC programs. School staff were also on hand to make sure families stayed connected by tackling any tech questions with ease.
Oh, and did we mention the food? Because there was a lot of food—and it was amazing.
The event highlighted the incredible diversity of the school community with families sharing dishes from their heritage that kept everyone coming back for seconds (and thirds!). Local partners joined in to celebrate and support Butler’s Hispanic community, while Emerald Coast Technical College Director Michael Smithart wowed families with opportunities available through ECTC programs. School staff were also on hand to make sure families stayed connected by tackling any tech questions with ease.
Oh, and did we mention the food? Because there was a lot of food—and it was amazing.
Today kicked off 15th Annual Music in Pictures - a collaboration between the Rosemary Beach Foundation and the Walton County School District. Art teachers from across the district gathered to hear Benjamin Sung, Professor of Violin at Florida State University perform and introduce the music for this year's event. Students will listen to these works and express what they hear through their art. Thank you to the Rosemary Beach Foundation and Dr. Sung - be on the lookout for some amazing art from our students very soon!
Superintendent Hughes spoke at the State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday held at the FWB Northwest Florida State College campus. He was able to highlight some of our innovative programs and the EPIC outcomes associated with them!
Congratulations to all on a great Homecoming at WHS! See the full gallery here :https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19fSThMb9e/
Today is #TeachAg day! Help us celebrate all of our teachers and students who are learning about agriculture and earning valuable and marketable skills, whether that learning turns into a career or a passion - we're here to develop the whole child!
The Walton Braves Homecoming is tomorrow, Friday the 19th! Wear blue, and come out to support the Braves! Court presentation will begin at 6:30 so get there early to see it all!!
Walton County School District proudly announces that South Walton High School senior Ella Feagans has been named a National Merit Semifinalist in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. As the district’s only National Merit Semifinalist this year, Ella’s achievement embodies what it means to be EPIC.
Since the eighth grade, Ella has worked tirelessly to achieve this goal, showcasing her ambition, foresight, and academic dedication. She is among approximately 16,000 Semifinalists selected nationwide from over 1.3 million students who entered the program through the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), placing her in the top 1% of high school seniors in the United States.
Ella aspires to become an executive for Porsche North America, a goal born of time spent with her father restoring a 1966 Porsche. When you meet Ella, the ambition, drive, and willingness to work hard is immediately apparent.
The National Merit Scholarship Program, administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), recognizes top-performing students based on their PSAT/NMSQT scores. Semifinalists are chosen on a state-representational basis and must submit a detailed application—including academic records, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, an essay, and a school official’s recommendation—to advance to Finalist status. Approximately 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists in February 2026, with around 7,500 ultimately receiving Merit Scholarships totaling approximately $28 million. These awards include National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships, and college-sponsored scholarships.
Congratulations. Ella! We can’t wait until February! Until then, stay EPIC and KEEP THE CHARGE!
Freeport Elementary School officially opened "Ethan's Playground", an adaptive play space, yesterday in honor of Ethan Wynn. The kids are already enjoying the space!
The District Office is decked out in Orange and Blue to support Freeport's Homecoming! The parade begins at 1:30pm today and the game is at 7pm! The parade starts at Freeport Learning Center and ends at Shipyard Rd. The game is at the FHS football field. Let's go Bulldogs!
On this solemn Patriot Day, September 11, 2025, the Walton County School District joins our community and nation in pausing to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and unity that defined that day and the days that followed. Today, we encourage our students, staff, and families to take a moment to remember those we lost and to honor the enduring strength of our community and country.
At the Walton County School District, we ignite the spark that creates a charge… a charge that develops a passion - and a passion that prepares a child for a life of success. ⚡✨
Students in Art at West DeFuniak Elementary are learning watercolors, and ALL students drew portraits of themselves for a portrait tapestry - Familiar Faces of WDE that is displayed on the hallway walls.
Step aside DaVinci and Picasso - We're KEEPING THE CHARGE!
Students in Art at West DeFuniak Elementary are learning watercolors, and ALL students drew portraits of themselves for a portrait tapestry - Familiar Faces of WDE that is displayed on the hallway walls.
Step aside DaVinci and Picasso - We're KEEPING THE CHARGE!
