Education

Santa Rosa has 18 elementary schools, 8 middle schools and 6 high schools, there are also several private/parochial schools in the area. Milton also has one vocational/technical school. For a complete listing of schools in Santa Rosa County , school curricula, bus routes, or school zones visit the Santa Rosa County website.  Schools can be found under the "Resident Services" tab on the website.

There are no DoDDS schools at NAS Whiting Field or any nearby installation.

Santa Rosa has 18 elementary schools, 8 middle schools and 6 high schools, there are also several private/parochial schools in the Pace/ Milton area. Milton, also, has one vocational/technical school.  Scores for high school students fall into the 83 percentile.

NAS Whiting Field has a School Liaison Officer (SLO) to assist transitioning families with issues that may arise from transfers.  They also have information about homeschooling and anything dealing with the military and the education of your child.  For more information call, 850-665-6105.

Registration Requirements

Age requirements for Santa Rosa schools are as follows:

• Kindergarten: The child must be at least 5 on or before 1 September
• First Grade: The child must be at least 6 on or before 1 September

School Boundaries

School boundaries have been carefully defined to adhere to specific requirements. Transfers to other than assigned schools may be requested, but each request must be weighed for compliance to variables such as class size. The Housing Referral office has a map which shows the school boundaries.

 Santa Rosa Early Steps Program assists families with children from 3 years old who have special needs.  Santa Rosa District Schools serve children from 3 years of age to 5 years of age by September 1 in a full day school based program. Classroom environments are varying exceptionality with 10 - 12  children, teacher and teacher assistant. These classrooms serve children with all disabilities including Developmental Delay. These classrooms are located in the school zone in which the child lives.  The curriculums used in all of the PreK Disabilities classrooms are Scholastic's Building Language for Literacy and Leap Frogs - Ready, Set, Leap Program. Children receive services while in the Head Start and Voluntary PK classes. We also serve a large number of children who require speech only those are served by parents bringing their child for therapy to their elementary school or Jackson Pre K Center.

Early Steps is Florida’s Part C Early Intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers birth to thirty-six months who are at risk for or show developmental delays. Early Intervention is designed to support children and families in their daily routines as this is where children play and learn. 

 Head Start -- County wide registration takes place yearly. Ongoing registration for Head Start occurs daily in the ERSEA office located at the T. R. Jackson Pre-K School. A child must be three (3) years old on or before September 1 of the current year. Priority will be given to those students who are four (4) years of age on or before September 1 of the current year. Eligibility is based on: Income, Age, and Residence. Families must meet the federal or state income guidelines to be eligible. Children with special needs/disabilities are welcomed. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call 850-983-5720.

Pensacola State University and University of West Florida (UWF) are within the local area. Additionally the University of South Alabama is within a 1 hr. drive.