Education

The installation does not have DoD schools. Children living on base attend Bay County School District. The school district is the 21st largest in Florida, with an enrollment in excess of 20,773 students. The Bay County School District operates a Pre-K - 12th grade program that meets all state curriculum requirements.

The Bay County School District public schools serve a population of more than 130,000 people within a geographic area of 758 square miles. The school district is ranked number 26 in the state, with an enrollment of 26,000 students. The Bay County School District operates a Pre-K-12 program that meets all state curriculum requirements.

Bay County's public school district has always enjoyed a reputation for educational excellence. All classroom teachers have bachelor's degrees and over 33 percent of the instructional staff have advanced degrees. Students consistently rank above state and national averages on SAT and ACT scores. There are 42 schools in the district to include; 18 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools, 2 multi-grade schools, 1 adult/technical school, 6 charter schools, 1 virtual school, and 3 special area schools providing excellent programs for exceptional children. School buses provide transportation to and from school for those students who live more than two miles from their assigned schools.

Bay District Schools has implemented "School Choice" in our area.  Students may elect to attend any school however transportation is the responsibility of the parent if the school is outside of the student's school zone area. The base is zoned for Tyndall Elementary and Rutherford High School.  However with influx of personnel coming in for the anticipated inbound aircraft; this may not be an option so please plan ahead and call ahead to ensure that your children get the school that you would like for them to attend.

Bay District Schools has on-line registration for military families prior to their arrival to Bay County. Registration information is located under the Bay District School website. Please call the Tyndall AFB School Liaison Officer at 850-283-4747 to request a password to access the registration form. Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC). There are Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC) located in several of our district schools. MFLC's are professional licensed clinicians with Masters or Doctorate Level Education and have experience working with children.

MFLC Roles and Responsibilities

• Offer Confidential short-term non-medical counseling services to children, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Support teachers and administration at their assigned school.
• Work directly with military children and families or adult impacted by a military child.
• Adhere to Duty to Warn protocol.

MFLCs Are Available To:

• Observe, participate, and engage in activities with children and youth.
• Provide direct interventions in the classroom setting.
• Model behavioral management techniques and provide feedback to staff.
• Suggest courses of age appropriate behavioral interventions to enhance coping and behavioral skills.
• Outreach to parents.
• Facilitate psycho-educational groups.
• Conduct trainings for staff and parents.
• Recommend referrals to military social services and other resources as needed.

School begins in early August and ends in early June. Shot records are required and should be taken to the 325th Medical Group Immunization Clinic (850-283-7137) to be converted to Florida forms. Children entering or attending the 7th grade will be required to have completed the Hepatitis B Series, Tetanus-Diphtheria Booster, and a second dose of Measles vaccine. A health exam is required no later than 30 days after registering for school. Kindergarten is required. Florida law requires a child be 5 years old by September 1st to be eligible for kindergarten. A child who enrolled in kindergarten in a school out-of-state, and met the age requirements for that state, will be admitted to kindergarten. The district participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

Parents want the best for their children — good grades, college, and a career. It all starts with a strong foundation of learning. Your child’s brain goes through the most important growth and development by age 5. Children who attend high-quality preschool do much better when they reach kindergarten. It can make a huge difference in their success throughout life.  Florida voters understand that what children learn today shapes their tomorrow and that our children's future affect us all. That's why they approved a ballot initiative for the state to fund a high-quality voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) for every 4-year-old in Florida. Florida's FREE VPK program will give every child the chance to fulfill their potential and achieve their tomorrow.

All children living in Florida who turns 4 by September 1st of the current program year are eligible to participate. For more information about VPK, please visit the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten website.

Private/Parochial School

Several private and parochial schools are located in Bay County, as well as a number of day care and kindergarten classes. Most private schools in the area are operated through a church and meet the denomination's accreditation requirements.

Adult Education

The Force Development Center is the focal point on Tyndall AFB for all educational information. Classes and assistance are available to prepare individuals for exams such as the Graduate Equivalent Diploma (GED), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and college admission tests. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Gulf Coast Community College and Troy State University offer degrees from Associates through the Masters level. In addition, the Tyndall AFB Library has numerous educational materials including test preparation booklets, CD-ROMs, videos, and online information is available.