For the 2025 school year, there are 24 public preschools serving 15,453 students in Okaloosa County, FL.
The top ranked public preschools in Okaloosa County, FL are Bluewater Elementary School, James E Plew Elementary School and Eglin Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Okaloosa County, FL public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the Florida public pre school average of 56%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 54% statewide average). Pre schools in Okaloosa County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Florida public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public preschool average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Okaloosa County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bluewater Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4545 Range Rd
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4240
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4240
Gr: PK-5 | 914 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #22.
James E Plew Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
220 Pine Ave
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4100
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4100
Gr: PK-5 | 820 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Eglin Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
200 Gaffney Rd
Eglin Afb, FL 32542
(850) 833-4320
Eglin Afb, FL 32542
(850) 833-4320
Gr: PK-4 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #44.
Antioch Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4700 Whitehurst Ln
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 683-7540
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 683-7540
Gr: PK-5 | 965 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Destin Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
630 Kelly St
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 833-4360
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 833-4360
Gr: PK-4 | 933 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #66.
Lula J. Edge Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
300 Highway 85 N
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4138
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-4138
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #77.
Florosa Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1700 W Highway 98
Mary Esther, FL 32569
(850) 833-4381
Mary Esther, FL 32569
(850) 833-4381
Gr: PK-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #88.
Addie R. Lewis School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
281 Mississippi Ave
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4130
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4130
Gr: PK-8 | 677 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #99.
Northwood Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
501 4th Ave
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7252
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7252
Gr: PK-5 | 840 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1010.
Kenwood Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
15 Eagle St Ne
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3570
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3570
Gr: PK-5 | 525 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1111.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3400 E Redstone Ave
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7203
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7203
Gr: PK-5 | 991 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1212.
Baker School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1369 14th St
Baker, FL 32531
(850) 689-7279
Baker, FL 32531
(850) 689-7279
Gr: PK-12 | 1,461 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1313.
Bob Sikes Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
425 Adams Dr
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7268
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7268
Gr: PK-5 | 813 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1414.
Walker Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2988 Stillwell Blvd
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7220
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7220
Gr: PK-5 | 848 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1515.
Mary Esther Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy
Mary Esther, FL 32569
(850) 833-3371
Mary Esther, FL 32569
(850) 833-3371
Gr: PK-5 | 444 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1616.
Laurel Hill School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8078 4th St
Laurel Hill, FL 32567
(850) 652-4111
Laurel Hill, FL 32567
(850) 652-4111
Gr: PK-12 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1717.
Shalimar Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1350 Joe Martin Cir
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 833-4339
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 833-4339
Gr: PK-5 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1818.
Elliott Point Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 Hughes St Ne
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3355
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3355
Gr: PK-5 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1919.
Wright Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
305 Lang Rd
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3580
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3580
Gr: PK-5 | 590 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2020.
Longwood Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
50 Holly Ave
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 833-4329
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 833-4329
Gr: PK-5 | 574 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2121.
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
7 Wright Pkwy Sw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3333
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3333
Gr: PK-5 | 464 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2222.
Silver Sands-excep. Children
Special Education School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
349 Holmes Blvd Nw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3364
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3364
Gr: PK-12 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2323.
Richbourg School
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 Alabama St
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7229
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7229
Gr: PK-12 | 68 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: n/an/a
650 S Pearl St
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7203
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7203
Gr: PK-2 | 267 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Okaloosa County 51±¬ÁÏs (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Adolescent Substance Abuse (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
1015 Mar Walt Dr
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 301-3090
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 301-3090
Gr: 6-12
Ami Kids Emerald Coast (Closed 2020)
Alternative School
207 4th St Se
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 244-2711
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 244-2711
Gr: 6-12 | 36 students Minority enrollment: 55%
110 Racetrack Rd Nw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3614
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3614
Gr: 9-12 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 65:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Crestview Vocational-technical Center (Closed 2009)
Vocational School
1250 N Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-5532
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-5532
Gr: 6-12
Emerald Coast Career Institute S Middle School (Closed 2012)
Alternative School
720 Lovejoy Rd Nw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3106
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3106
Gr: 4-8 | 42 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Exceptional Student Education (ina (Closed 2017)
Special Education School
120 Lowery Place, S.e.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3100
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3100
400 Hollywood Blvd Sw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3300
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3300
Gr: 9-12 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 64:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
461 School Avenue
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7433
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7433
Gr: 8-11 | 19 students Minority enrollment: 58%
Gulf Coast Youth Academy (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
4448 Straight Line Rd
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7800
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 689-7800
Gr: 6-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
1250 N Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7177
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7177
Gr: 9-12 | 50 students Minority enrollment: 44%
101 Chinquapin Drive
Eglin Afb, FL 32542
(850) 833-4311
Eglin Afb, FL 32542
(850) 833-4311
Gr: PK-5 | 559 students Minority enrollment: 33%
720 Essex Rd
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3556
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3556
Gr: PK-5 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
1976 Lewis Turner Blvd
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3889
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 833-3889
Gr: K-8
Okaloosa County Superintendent's Office (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
9120 Lowery Place, Se
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-310
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-310
461 School Ave
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7149
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 689-7149
Gr: 9-12
Owcc Collegiate Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
100 College Boulevard
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 729-4949
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 729-4949
Gr: 1-12 | 239 students Student-teacher ratio: 60:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Santa Rosa Youth Academy (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
6751 Berryhill St
Holt, FL 32564
(850) 983-5065
Holt, FL 32564
(850) 983-5065
Gr: 7-12 | 23 students Minority enrollment: 78%
379 Edge Avenue
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4120
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4120
Gr: PK-5 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
379 Edge Ave
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4120
Valparaiso, FL 32580
(850) 833-4120
Gr: PK | 10 students Minority enrollment: 20%
720 Lovejoy Rd Nw
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3345
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-3345
Gr: PK-12 | 37 students Student-teacher ratio: 37:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Okaloosa County, FL?
The top ranked public preschools in Okaloosa County, FL include Bluewater Elementary School, James E Plew Elementary School and Eglin Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Okaloosa County?
24 public preschools are located in Okaloosa County.
What is the racial composition of students in Okaloosa County?
Okaloosa County public preschools minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public preschools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Okaloosa County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Okaloosa County include: Lula J. Edge Elementary School vs. James E Plew Elementary School, James E Plew Elementary School vs. Lula J. Edge Elementary School, Florosa Elementary School vs. Mary Esther Elementary School
Recent Articles

Why Single-Sex 51±¬ÁÏs are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.

When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?

When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.