Walton County expanding two schools to provide more education opportunities
A first for Walton County, where a Collegiate High School and a college will be built on the same campus.
The Seacoast Collegiate High School and the Northwest Florida State College are underway. The area is growing, and school staff say this expansion is much needed. The new buildings will expand education opportunities across the Panhandle.
“We’ll have all of our students in one place for the first time,” said Tom Miller, Executive Director of Seaside Schools. “It’s very exciting for the culture and the community because this is not just going to serve our students at Seacoast High School. Any Walton County dual enrollment student can take classes here. Any adult who wants to take college classes here will also have access to this campus.”
The high school will hold more than 200 9th and 10th graders. While the college will hold around 400 college students, where 11th and 12th graders will take their classes.
“500 {students} will be here so our graduation cohorts will rise from 57 to about 160,” said Miller.
With this expansion, more than 100 students on the wait list will be able to attend.
“We’ve really expanded all those clubs and offerings, but having juniors and seniors here, they’re the leaders of the campus, we’ve really been missing that part,” said Miller. “It’s really going to impact all of our grades.”
This will also increase the number of students eligible for lateral entry jobs.
“Our college students can actually work here and they have, stronger skills to do that,” said Miller. “Then also the professional workforce, it’s going to close a lot of workforce gaps.”
Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year will open up in January and the school will be open for the start of the next school year.