Over the past several years, we have celebrated nearly 20 ribbon cuttings and completed countless improvement projects across the district. While there is always more work to do, each project brings us closer to our goal of providing every student with a safe, innovative, and inspiring place to learn and thrive.
Attention Military Students and Parents: School may have just started; however, it is never too early to start thinking about what lies ahead. If you are considering attending college, please join us for an information session about the Common App, designed specifically for military-connected students. This session is appropriate for students in grades 8-12, and is being presented by the Common App. The session will take place via Teams on Tuesday, August 18 from 5:30-6:30 pm CST. Pre-registration is NOT required. The meeting link can also be accessed via the QR code on the flier above.
https://aptg.co/txl6m6
As students, families, and staff return to campus, please remember that school zones will be active and traffic may be heavier than usual. Allow a little extra travel time as speeds are reduced and car rider lines may extend farther than normal while everyone gets back into their school-year routines.
🚸 Watch for school zone signals
🚌 Be alert for students at bus stops, walking to school, and riding bikes/scooters
🚗 Expect delays near school campuses
❤️ Slow down and help keep our students safe
Parents, please be patient with school transportation. Bus routes may experience delays during the first week or two as students, families, and drivers learn new routines and route adjustments.
Thank you for your patience and for helping us make the first day a safe and successful one for all!
A proud product of the Okaloosa County School District, Richie attended Wright Elementary, Pryor Middle School, and Choctawhatchee High School before continuing his football career at UCF. Drafted into the NFL in 2021, Richie has now played professionally for five seasons and shared a powerful message with our coaches about the lasting impact they have on the lives of student-athletes.
A special thank you to the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation for providing snacks and to BSN Sports for supplying donuts and for their continued support of our athletic programs. Your partnership helps make opportunities like this possible! Thank you to all of our coaches for investing in their professional growth and for the positive influence you make every day. Here's to another great year of leading, mentoring, and inspiring student-athletes both on and off the field!
Before the first day of school, take a moment to verify your child's school assignment and school start time.
📍 Our school attendance boundaries have changed for some families this year. We re-zoned our north-end elementary and middle schools, as well as our south-end elementary schools. If you have an approved Controlled Open Enrollment (COE), your assignment will remain based on that approval.
✅ Check your school assignment using our School Site Locator: https://www.schoolsitelocator.com/apps/okaloosa/
⏰ 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱: School start times indicate when learning begins. To help your student start the day successfully, plan to arrive on campus with enough time for drop-off and getting to class before the bell rings.
🚗 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝘁𝗼-𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗽:Plan to arrive a little earlier than usual during the first few days of school. Car rider lines are typically busier as families adjust to new routines, and giving yourself extra time can help ensure a smooth start to the school year.
❓ If you have questions about your school's start or dismissal times, please contact your school directly.
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11, and we can't wait to welcome students back!
New to Okaloosa County School District? There's still time to enroll and become part of the OCSD Family. Visit our registration page to get started: 🔗 https://www.okaloosaschools.com/page/registration
Here's to a fantastic year filled with opportunities, accomplishments, and unforgettable memories. Let's make the 2026-2027 school year our best yet!
While the heat was certainly a challenge, our schools showed up, stayed strong, and powered through like absolute champions! Even better, our community showed up in the biggest way possible. The generosity was incredible, and we truly cannot thank you enough for showing up and supporting our students!
A huge THANK YOU to our amazing partners who helped make it all happen— WEAR, Cumulus, Salvation Army Florida Division Fort Walton Beach Corps, Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, and especially Walmart for hosting us, going above and beyond, and supporting this effort.
And a very special THANK YOU to our VOLUNTEERS. We are so grateful for each and every one of you!
Special shout out to Sara Mathis with MTSI, Johnny Edwards & Claire Erk from Doolittle Institute, Karen Osborne with Decision Sciences, our district team—Amy Dale, Meredith Ness, Quanz Peters, and Debbie Tate, our Transportation Department and School Board Members.
Because of YOU, students across Okaloosa County will head back to school ready to succeed. That’s what it’s all about!
Visit our Facebook page for more great pictures: https://www.facebook.com/OkaloosaCountySchoolDistrict
One of the most important things families can do before the school year begins is make sure they're connected through our two primary family tools: the Focus Parent Portal/ App and the OCSD App.
✅ 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡/𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝘼𝙥𝙥 Every parent or guardian should have a Focus Parent Portal account. Through Focus, you can:
• Complete important forms and annual updates
• Monitor grades and attendance
• Access student information
• Stay informed about your child's academic progress
📲 On the go? Download the Focus App for convenient access to your student's information anytime, anywhere.
📱 OCSD App The OCSD App puts important district and school information right at your fingertips, including:
• Rooms, our new family-school communication portal
• School and district news and updates
• Helpful links and resources
• Quick access to important information throughout the year
Taking a few minutes now to set up and familiarize yourself with these tools can help ensure a smooth and successful school year.
These apps are available for download in your device's app store!
The application for free or reduced-price school meals is officially open!
✅ Healthy meals help students stay focused and ready to learn.
✅ Applying is quick, confidential, and helps support your school community.
✅ Important reminder: Families must reapply each school year—even if you qualified last year.
Even if you're unsure whether you qualify, it's worth applying—eligibility can change!
Apply today and help ensure your child has access to nutritious meals every day.
Visit http://www.myschoolapps.com/ or access the link in the OCSD app!
Join us for a fun-filled morning as we celebrate the start of your child’s educational journey!
The Okaloosa County School District, in partnership with the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation and the Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast, invites families to a FREE Kindergarten & VPK Registration Family Movie on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marquis Cinema in Crestview, Florida.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
-Complimentary movie tickets (up to 3 per household)
-A snack pack for each child
-On-site VPK & Kindergarten registration help
-Meet district staff & early learning partners
This exciting event is perfect for families preparing for VPK or Kindergarten—let’s make those first steps into school unforgettable!
Seats are limited! Pre-register now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYdn70a-Q3CL66WrdLrIJaZGRQpjhFv5iqDuAEt86s43ITyg/viewform
Parent/guardian attendance required.
Summer Reading Activities: Embark on a Literary Adventure
🌴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 📚
➼Visit a public library and check out some books.
➼Create a map of your home.
➼Write a thank you note to your local fire station. Plan a time to visit the fire station and deliver the thank you note.
➼Take a walk around the neighborhood. Before going, make a list of things that you think you will see. When you return, review the list to check off what you saw and add other things to the list that you observed on your walk.
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵—𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘯!
For more summer reading activities, visit the Florida Department of Education webpage: https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/just-read-fl/families/summer-activities-elementary.stml
Every route matters—each bus trip supports a safe start and end to the school day. 🧡
Join the Okaloosa County School District as a bus driver and become part of a team that supports students every day. Paid training and driving experience are included, plus new hire bonuses!
If you are interested in becoming a bus driver, visit our website: https://www.okaloosaschools.com/page/employment.
Over 60 students participated in and enjoyed a Career Exploration event last week! Students from Pryor, Bruner, and Meigs Middle Schools and Crestview High School rotated over two days between CareerSource Okaloosa Walton and Okaloosa Technical College, gaining valuable hands-on experience and real-world insight into potential career paths.
While at Okaloosa Technical College, students participated in engaging, hands-on activities in Building Trades, Cosmetology, and Culinary—getting a true feel for each industry. At CareerSource, they explored local labor market information, strengthened their interviewing skills, connected with local businesses and recruiters, and heard inspiring success stories from someone who was once in their shoes.
This impactful experience would not have been possible without the strong partnership between the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, Okaloosa Technical College, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
A special thank you to Jon Williams, Tricia Sansom, Scott Brogdon, Marcus Hencinski, Andrea DeShong, and Greg Rynearson at Okaloosa Technical College; and Michele Burns, Kelly Jordan, Brad Balfanz, Cheryl Hall, Brooklyn Lee, Tabitha Ewerds, Amber Scamardo, and Melissa Rust from CareerSource—along with the many local businesses and military recruiters who made these two days such a success.
We would also like to thank the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation for their support in making this event possible, as well as Ericka Peterson, Beke Heald, Debbie Tate, and the Bus Barn for their coordination with the schools and efforts in bringing this event together.
We are so proud of these students as they explore their futures!
