THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, encompassing SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL™ and Seacoast Collegiate High School, proudly announces its designation as a 2022-2023 School of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education for the sixth consecutive year as a combination public charter school serving grades five through twelve in Walton County.

Out of 783 schools designated as Schools of Excellence for the 2022-2023 academic year, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ has maintained its distinguished position, showcasing its ongoing commitment to educational excellence. Among these schools, 658 retained their designation from the previous year, 37 renewed their designation, and 88 were newly designated in 2022-2023.

The State Board of Education officially approved the list of Schools of Excellence during their meeting on March 27, 2024, adhering to the criteria outlined in Section 1003.631(1)(a), Florida Statutes (F.S.). This statute mandates the designation of a school as a School of Excellence if its percentage of possible points earned in its school grade calculation ranks in the 80th percentile or higher for at least two of the last three school years. The program, established by the Florida Legislature in 2017, continues to recognize and celebrate schools demonstrating exceptional academic performance.

In addition to its designation as a School of Excellence, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ was also honored as an “A” school for the 2022-2023 school year, positioning it in the 98.5 percentile among all combination public schools in the state of Florida and securing its ranking as one of the top combination public charter schools in the state. THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ has been an “A” school for more than twenty consecutive years.

Dr. Tom Miller, Executive Director of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, expressed his gratitude for the continued recognition and emphasized the crucial partnership with the Walton County School District, which was recently ranked as the #2 school district in Florida. Dr. Miller stated, “We are immensely proud to receive the School of Excellence designation for the sixth consecutive year as we strive to be world-class in everything we do. This achievement underscores our unwavering dedication to providing outstanding education to our students. Our strong partnership with the Walton County School District has been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to further elevate educational standards in our community.”

Kim Mixson, Principal of SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL™, commented on the achievement, saying, “Being named a School of Excellence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to nurturing an environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for all our students.”

Drew Ward, Principal of Seacoast Collegiate High School, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Northwest Florida State College for Seacoast’s collegiate dual enrollment program. Ward stated, “Our partnership with Northwest Florida State College has provided our students with invaluable opportunities to excel academically and prepare for their future endeavors. Being recognized as a School of Excellence affirms the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts in offering rigorous academic programs that empower our students to succeed.”

THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ continues to set the standard for excellence in education, driven by its dedicated faculty, staff, and community partnerships. With its unwavering commitment to academic achievement and student success, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ remains a beacon of educational excellence in the state of Florida providing an unparalleled educational experience and opportunities to its students.

For more information on THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, visit SeasideSchools.net.

About The Seaside School, Inc.

The Seaside School, Inc. – the oldest operating public charter school in Florida and comprised of Seaside Neighborhood School in Seaside, Florida and Seacoast Collegiate High School located on the nearby campus of Northwest Florida State College – was founded in 1996 with the simple goal of creating a school to address the need for a better middle school education in Walton County. Today, Seaside School has nearly 440 students across the two school campuses and Northwest Florida State College serving grades 5th through 12th and was ranked in the top five of all public charter schools in the state of Florida for the 2021-2022 school year based on the Florida Department of Education School Grade Program. For more information, visit SeasideSchools.net.

THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Named a 2022-2023 School of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education