The Best Private Schools in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Santa Rosa Beach. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Ohana Institute
Independent Private School
Ohana Institute is an innovative private school located in Santa Rosa Beach that emphasizes project-based learning and real-world applications. The school serves students from elementary through high school with a focus on environmental science, marine biology, and sustainability education, leveraging its coastal location. With small class sizes and personalized learning approaches, Ohana Institute has built a strong reputation for academic excellence and student engagement, offering both traditional academic subjects and specialized programs that capitalize on the unique natural environment of the Emerald Coast.
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Emerald Coast Classical Academy
Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative
Emerald Coast Classical Academy is a tuition-free public charter school offering a classical education model developed in partnership with Hillsdale College. The school emphasizes rigorous academics through a traditional liberal arts curriculum, focusing on Western civilization, great books, and character development. Despite being newer, it has quickly gained recognition for its high academic standards and comprehensive educational approach serving students from kindergarten through high school in the Santa Rosa Beach community.
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St. Mary's Catholic School
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Located just 15 miles from Santa Rosa Beach in Valparaiso, St. Mary's Catholic School has been serving the Emerald Coast region for over seven decades. This accredited private school offers a comprehensive education from preschool through 8th grade with a strong foundation in Catholic values and traditions. The school features modern facilities, dedicated faculty, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, fine arts, athletics, and community service. With its long-standing reputation and proximity to Santa Rosa Beach, it serves as a popular choice for families seeking faith-based education in the area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
What are the primary private school options available in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and what educational philosophies do they represent?
Santa Rosa Beach, FL, offers a few distinct private school options, each with a unique approach. **Emerald Coast Classical Academy** is a tuition-free, public charter school with a classical, liberal arts curriculum, though it operates with private school-like selectivity and structure. For a fully private option, **Ohana Institute** provides a progressive, project-based learning environment with small multi-age classes, emphasizing experiential and global education. **St. Mary's Catholic School**, located a short drive away in nearby Fort Walton Beach, offers a faith-based, traditional education from Pre-K through 8th grade. The limited number of purely private campuses within Santa Rosa Beach itself means many families also consider schools in neighboring communities like Destin, Miramar Beach, and Panama City.
How does the Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program impact private school tuition for families in Santa Rosa Beach?
The Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) is a crucial financial consideration for Santa Rosa Beach families. This state-funded program provides education savings accounts that can be used for private school tuition, making schools like Ohana Institute and St. Mary's more accessible. Eligibility is based on household income, with priority for lower-income families, but the program has expanded to include more middle-income households. It's essential to confirm with your chosen school that they accept the scholarship, as participation is voluntary. The application process is managed by state-approved scholarship funding organizations, and deadlines are typically in the spring for the following academic year.
Given Santa Rosa Beach's coastal environment, do any local private schools offer specialized programs in marine or environmental science?
Yes, Santa Rosa Beach's unique location directly influences its private school curricula. **Ohana Institute** notably integrates the local coastal ecosystem into its project-based learning model. Students frequently engage in hands-on environmental studies, coastal conservation projects, and marine biology explorations that utilize the nearby beaches, dune lakes, and state parks as living classrooms. While not all private schools have a formal marine science "major," the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and various estuaries allows for rich, experiential learning opportunities that are a distinctive advantage of schooling in this specific Florida community.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in the Santa Rosa Beach area, and how competitive is admission?
Enrollment timelines in Santa Rosa Beach area private schools generally begin in the winter (January-February) for the following fall, with rolling admissions thereafter until seats are filled. Due to the limited number of private seats, especially in the lower grades, the process can be competitive. **Ohana Institute**, with its very small class sizes, often has a waitlist. The process typically includes an application, submission of past academic records, family interviews, and sometimes student assessments or visit days. For **St. Mary's Catholic School**, priority is often given to parish members and siblings of current students. We recommend initiating inquiries at least a year in advance to understand specific deadlines and requirements.
How do the academic and community environments of Santa Rosa Beach private schools compare to the highly-rated public schools in South Walton?
The choice often comes down to educational philosophy and scale. South Walton public schools, like Van R. Butler Elementary, are highly rated and offer robust programs, but they operate on a larger scale. Private options in Santa Rosa Beach provide significantly smaller student-to-teacher ratios and more personalized learning. For example, Ohana Institute's entire student body may be smaller than a few public school classes, fostering a tight-knit community. The private schools also have more curricular flexibility—offering classical (ECCA), progressive (Ohana), or faith-based (St. Mary's) models—unlike the standardized public curriculum. The trade-off is cost (unless using FES scholarships) and, in some cases, fewer extensive athletic facilities compared to the public high schools.
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