|
Okaloosa's School District
The
Okaloosa
County School District
was one of the first school districts
to end the practice of social promotion, insisting that students
meet academic standards in one grade before promotion to the next.
After making the most dramatic
learning gains since the state started grading schools, Okaloosa has
achieved a larger share of 'A' schools than the other 66
Florida counties.
2007 Okaloosa Schools
90% earned A's
100% earned A's or B's Blue Ribbon School District
In 2000 the Okaloosa School Board was honored as a Blue Ribbon
School District. ranking in the top
third nationally for academic excellence.
Technology and the use of computers
in the classroom is a major component in today's student learning.
Therefore, Okaloosa County schools are equipped with computers in
classrooms. The district also offers training for teachers through a
technology lab.
Virtual Science Mentor Program
Through the efforts of the EDC
working with the Technological Research and Development Authority,
the Okaloosa County School District was awarded a NASA
Educational Grant in 2001 for placement of the Virtual
Science Mentor Program to bring scientists and engineers into
the classroom via computer technology.
Secondary Education Partnerships
Okaloosa has established
important partnerships with Florida colleges and universities to
provide additional opportunities and challenges for students.
-
The University of Florida and
University of West Florida:
pre-engineering course work for middle and high school students
-
The Florida State University
College of Medicine and West Florida Area Health Education Center:
advanced science and math instruction for students starting in
seventh grade
-
Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University:
university-level aerospace studies
Community High: Okaloosa
Institutes for Career Education;
CHOICE
CHOICE is a unique program for high school students. It
lets you earn high school credit, college credit and
nationally-recognized industry certification – all at the same time.
Institutes:
-
Aerospace
-
Construction
Technology
-
Creative Arts
-
Hospitality
-
Information
Technology
Engineers for America (EFA)
Engineers for America is a locally conceived program
to build on national and state emphasis on science and engineering
studies for our elementary and middle school students.
The
Air Force Armament
Museum Foundation along with the award winning Okaloosa County
School District and representatives of local colleges and
universities have developed a unique curriculum that presents
displays at the Armament Museum as practical real world engineering
problems to interest and motivate younger students.
Okaloosa County also offers several
private Christian K-12 schools.
Colleges
Okaloosa-Walton
College
Okaloosa-Walton
College, OWC, is accredited by the Commission on
Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to
award bachelor's and associate degrees, certificates and diplomas.
- Bachelor's program -- BAS and BSN
- A variety of Associate Degrees
- Short term technical certificates
- Vocational certificates
- Adult education
- High school equivalency instruction
- English-as-a-second language
- Noncredit continuing education
- Retirement learning
- Customized training for business and industry
OWC is a public institution
and serve approximately 15,500 students annually at six full-time
campuses and centers, including a main campus in Niceville, a joint
campus with the University of West Florida in Fort Walton Beach and
centers in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and at Eglin Air Force Base
and Hurlburt Field. Bachelor's programs currently include a
BAS degree program in Project and Acquisitions Management and a BSN
in Nursing. An associate degree RN program in Nursing and
other health programs are also offered.
Education and Business: Partners in Success
Few
partnerships are so essential to the on-going success of each
partner as those established between educational institutions and
businesses. Businesses depend on education to provide their
employees, supervisors, and leaders what they need in order to
succeed in a competitive market place. Businesses also depend
on educational institutions for much of the retraining and upgrading
necessary to keep their employees, supervisors, and managers current
and competitive. Educational institutions, in turn, depend on
businesses to help keep faculty and courses up to date, to provide
competent part-time instructors and program advisors, and to provide
financial resources.
Dr. David Goetsch,
FWB OWC Vice President
Business and education partnerships
include: 1) OWC's Institute for Professional Development. The
IPD offers seminars designed to help working professionals develop
the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to advance in their
chosen fields, and 2) OWC's The Quality Institute. TQI
conducts customized training onsite in local business, industry, and
government organizations. The training is tailored
specifically to the needs of the individual company and is designed
to help the company improve its personnel, processes, and
performance.
OWC has a long and successful
history of working effectively with business, industry, and
government employers in providing training that is customized to
meet the needs of the county's individual employers.
Universities
The University of West Florida
The
University of West
Florida's Fort Walton Beach Campus serves the unique needs of
employed students and military personnel. One of UWF's goal is to
meet the changing needs of our non-traditional student population
and to focus on demand-driven higher education programs that meet
the needs of both students and our local community. UWF
offers a full range of professional programs. The UWF campus in Fort
Walton Beach facilitates many advanced learning classes to provide
bachelor and graduate programs.
In March 2006 the
University of West Florida Board of Trustees voted to
combine all eight of their university branch campuses and extended
learning efforts under a new umbrella title of The University of
West Florida-Emerald Coast. As UWF expands its outreach delivery
throughout Northwest Florida, other field operations will
additionally be included under this organizational title and
structure.
The Haas Center for Business
Research
The University's Haas Center for
Business Research provides another valuable service to the area.
The mission of the Haas Center is to collect, analyze, and
disseminate information on the Northwest Florida business and
economic environment. It is the leading regional resource for
social and demographic information for Northwest Florida.
The University of Florida-Research Engineering
& Education Facility
The UF-REEF offers
Masters and Doctorate degree programs and courses in Mechanical
Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer
Engineering, and Industrial and Systems Engineering. The REEF
is located adjacent to the Eglin Air Force Base in Shalimar and is
the targeted location for the future
Emerald Coast
Technology & Research Campus.
Other University Branch Campuses
- Troy State University
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- The University of Okalahoma
- The University of Arkansas
Technology Centers
Okaloosa Applied Technology
Center
The Okaloosa Applied Technology
Center is one of the finest technical institutions in the state of
Florida. OATC offers an array of learning activities connecting
classroom instruction to the art of work. High school and adult
students are actively engaged in occupational preparation which
aligns technical training and academic studies. Nearly 100 business
and industrial partners help guide students toward a high level of
technical proficiency which qualifies them for employment or
advancement in specific occupations.
Other Technical Facilities
- The Bay Area Vocational Technical School
- The Crestview Vocational Technical Center
Home Page Top of Page |
