Prospects
Welcome to Choctawhatchee High School. You have found a very special place, one like none other. What makes it one of a kind is a combination of several elements. Rituals that started when the school first opened over six decades ago have become the traditions that are still practiced and honored today. These traditions are the threads that bind all who have attended or worked here. While we honor our past, at Choctawhatchee High School we live in the present, and prepare our students to succeed in a complex world. Choctaw students have the advantage of having forward-thinking teachers and administrators who work with students as individuals, and who help the student to find his or her best way to learn. The Choctawhatchee campus is alive with students who are being challenged, and who have the best of technology and other resources available as part of an innovative culture. Every student at Choctawhatchee High School has an opportunity to become his or her best self here. You can find your place and make your mark as a part of the Choctawhatchee Family. Once you have been here, you will be changed for the better. You will never forget your experiences here. Like they say, “Once an Indian, Always an Indian.”
Our School and Community
Choctawhatachee High School is the longest standing (since 1952) of two comprehensive public high schools nestled in the Greater Fort Walton Beach, FL area. Located on the Gulf of Mexico in the Northwest Florida Panhandle, Fort Walton Beach is the largest municipality in Okaloosa County. "Choctaw" has a student population of approximately 1650 with a mobility rate of 6.2%, attracting an ethnically, racially, geographically, and socio-economically diverse student body- thirty percent of whom come from Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base. The students attend from over 26 countries, speaking 14 different languages. The socio-economic diversity mirrors the community and the local military bases.
Choctaw's goal is to empower students with the academic, technological, and decision-making skills to become self-reliant, productive citizens in a global society.
Choctaw prides itself on being a place that is clean, safe, and conducive to student learning; a place where students succeed; a place where leaders are created and trained; a place where students, faculty, parents, and the community are a unified team; an academic institution that sets standards by raising the bar and promoting rigor; a place where respect is the rule and relationships are built. This, along with the principal's philosophical leadership style, naturally promotes learning that is rooted in the beliefs and visions of the school's stakeholders. Choctawhatchee High School has a unique blend of staff members who possess very specialized skills. The faculty, staff, and sponsors work closely with students and parents to grow and develop young adults. The culture that stems from traditional values and ideals supports rigorous programs that focus on best practices for student achievement.
Every Student
Choctawhatchee High School is a truly comprehensive high school with a robust program of study for every student of any level.
International Baccalaureate
Choctaw is the only high school in Okaloosa County, and one of only three in the Panhandle, to have the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma program. According to College Confidential, "Elite-college officials are looking for applicants who have elected the most rigorous classes available to them. Typically, students who pursue an... IB curriculum earn the coveted 'Most Demanding' label." At Choctaw, students have the opportunity to take AP classes embedded in their IB curriculum, ensuring their standing in the competitive college admissions and scholarship climate.
AP, AICE, and DUAL
In addition to IB, Choctaw has a full complement of other rigorous, college preparatory programs including Advanced Placement, AICE, and Dual Enrollment (NWFSC and ERAU). Check out our curriculum HERE.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide
CTE Institute
In addition to college level coursework (AP Computer Science Principles), the IT department at Choctaw provides students with the opportunity to participate in the following programs:
CTE-Carpentry
CTE-Cybersecurity
CTE- Digital Design
CTE- Web Programming
and earn the following industry certifications, thus increasing both their knowledge and their workforce marketability:
Microsoft Specialist - Word
Microsoft Specialist - Excel
Microsoft Specialist - Powerpoint
Adobe ACA Photoshop
Adobe ACA Illustrator
MTA Introduction to Programming Using HTML and CSS
CIW Advanced HTML5 and CSS Specialist
CIW JavaScript Specialist
AutoCAD
Our Athletics and Activities
In both 2017 and 2018, Choctawhatchee placed 3rd in class 7A in the Florida High School Athletics Association's Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup, an award that recognizes the most successful athletic programs in the state. See the list HERE.
Links of Interest