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Niceville City HallPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Niceville · Okaloosa County School District

Niceville’s public schools outscore 76% of Florida districts

62% of students in Niceville’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Niceville, 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.

#108of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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
58%
▲ 6 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
62%
▲ 10 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 0 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.1K
▼ 14% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
18.4
FL 18.0
Schools in town
9
4,360 students on the public path
In brief

Niceville’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 62% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,131 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 C. W. Ruckel Middle School, then Niceville Senior High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College, Rocky Bayou Christian School (private), Rocky Bayou Christian School, the Keep (private), St. Paul Christian School (private) and Emerald Coast Autism Center (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 Niceville’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 76% of Florida school districts, #108 of 638 Florida towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Florida average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 76%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (311)Better than 75%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 17,964 test results and a graduating class of 2,314 could put Niceville anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Niceville’s students in the tested grades sat them (17,299 in math, 18,628 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA
6–8C. W. Ruckel Middle SchoolOkaloosa County School DistrictA
9–12Niceville Senior High SchoolOkaloosa County School DistrictA

Niceville’s public schools are run by Okaloosa County School District, which also serves Cinco Bayou, Crestview, Destin and Fort Walton Beach and others. 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.

Okaloosa County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 46 schools · 32,047 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 18.4 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$11,131FL $13,006 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 52.1% · 18628 students tested
Math62%
State average 52.2% · 17299 students tested

Niceville vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NicevilleA−Okaloosa County
ValparaisoA−Okaloosa County

Every school in Niceville

9 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 Nicevilleby address
James E Plew Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
762 students18:1Rate it →
Lula J. Edge Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
501 students16:1Rate it →
C. W. Ruckel Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
1,061 students20:1Rate it →
Niceville Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
2,036 students25:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College
High · Grades 9–12
A+
Charter
463 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Rocky Bayou Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
882 students8:1Rate it →
Rocky Bayou Christian School, the Keep
Elementary · Grades 6–8
Private · Religious
237 students7:1Rate it →
St. Paul Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–5
Private · Religious
111 students10:1Rate it →
Emerald Coast Autism Center
Elementary · Grades 1–4
Private · Special education
46 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Niceville’s schools

Are Niceville’s schools good?

By Florida’s own tests, yes: the public schools Niceville children attend outscore 76% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #108 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 75%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Niceville in?

Okaloosa County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 32,047 students in 46 schools (2024–25).

Where do Niceville kids go to high school?

Niceville Senior High School, with 2,036 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Niceville’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Niceville spend per student?

$11,131 in Okaloosa County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Niceville?

Yes: Rocky Bayou Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 882 students), Rocky Bayou Christian School, the Keep (religious, grades 6–8, 237 students), St. Paul Christian School (religious, grades K–5, 111 students) and Emerald Coast Autism Center (special education, grades 1–4, 46 students). Niceville also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Niceville families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Niceville → 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.