Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to DeFuniak Springs

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
DeFuniak Springs Hist Dist crths01Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in DeFuniak Springs · Walton County School District

DeFuniak Springs’s public schools outscore 92% of Florida districts

67% of students in DeFuniak Springs’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving DeFuniak Springs, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.

#12of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
60%
▲ 8 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
67%
▲ 15 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 8 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.2K
▲ 17% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.5
FL 18.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
3,023 students on the public path
In brief

DeFuniak Springs’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 348 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of DeFuniak Springs’s, its schools beat 99%, higher than their 92% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 60% and math 67% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,247 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Walton Middle School, then Walton High School. Enrollment is up 23% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Walton Academy Inc. and First Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind DeFuniak Springs’s grade

A Test scoresA Graduation

A: better than 92% of Florida school districts, #12 of 638 Florida towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Florida average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 92%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (348)Better than 99%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,146 test results and a graduating class of 766 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of DeFuniak Springs’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,814 in math, 6,478 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve DeFuniak Springs, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−
6–8Walton Middle SchoolWalton County School DistrictB
9–12Walton High SchoolWalton County School DistrictB

DeFuniak Springs’s public schools are run by Walton County School District, which also serves Freeport and Paxton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Walton County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 19 schools · 12,007 students, up 23% since 2020–21 · 15.5 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$15,247FL $13,006 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading60%
State average 52.1% · 6478 students tested
Math67%
State average 52.2% · 5814 students tested

DeFuniak Springs vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Florida towns that share DeFuniak Springs’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DeFuniak SpringsAWalton County

Every school in DeFuniak Springs

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in DeFuniak Springsby address
West Defuniak Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Defuniak Springs
A−
704 students14:1Rate it →
Maude Saunders Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Defuniak Springs
B+
554 students12:1Rate it →
Walton Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Defuniak Springs
B
796 students15:1Rate it →
Walton High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Defuniak Springs
B
969 students17:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (WISE)
Grades PK–12 · Defuniak Springs
C−
Alternative Education
264 students10:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Walton Academy Inc.
High · Grades 5–12 · Defuniak Springs
D−
CharterAlternative Education
130 students26:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
First Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Defuniak Springs
Private · Religious
64 students21:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Emerald Coast Technical College).

Questions about DeFuniak Springs’s schools

Are DeFuniak Springs’s schools good?

By Florida’s own tests, yes: the public schools DeFuniak Springs children attend outscore 92% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #12 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 99%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is DeFuniak Springs in?

Walton County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 12,007 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do DeFuniak Springs kids go to high school?

Walton High School in Defuniak Springs, with 969 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is DeFuniak Springs’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Walton County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.

How much does DeFuniak Springs spend per student?

$15,247 in Walton County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in DeFuniak Springs?

Yes: First Christian Academy (religious, grades K–5, 64 students). DeFuniak Springs also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What DeFuniak Springs families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near DeFuniak Springs → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.