The Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) is celebrating another year of outstanding results from its Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) classrooms, with six schools earning an “Excellent” designation and three earning an “Above Expectations” designation from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for the 2025–2026 school year. FDOE’s VPK accountability system evaluates providers based on quality, child achievement, and learning gains, providing a comprehensive measure of how effectively VPK programs prepare young learners for kindergarten and future academic success. The following OCSD VPK sites earned an “Excellent” designation:
Bob Sikes Elementary
Edwins Elementary
Northwood Elementary
Riverside Elementary
Southside Primary
Walker Elementary
Three additional OCSD VPK sites earned an “Above Expectations” designation:
Longwood Elementary
Mary Esther Elementary
Okaloosa STEMM Academy
“Congratulations to our VPK teachers, administrators, and staff on this tremendous accomplishment,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “These results reflect the commitment our schools have to giving our youngest students a strong start. The foundation built during these early years is incredibly important, and we are proud of the exceptional work happening in our VPK classrooms across the district.”
Amy Dale, Director of Elementary Curriculum, also praised the educators who support OCSD’s youngest learners. “Our VPK programs play an important role in preparing students for kindergarten and establishing resiliency skills they need to be successful,” Dale said. “We are incredibly proud of our VPK teachers and school leaders for their dedication to providing high-quality learning experiences for our students. These designations are a reflection of their hard work and commitment to early learning.”
OCSD is proud to continue its commitment to high-quality early learning opportunities and to ensuring students enter kindergarten ready to learn, grow, and succeed.