When deciding where to purchase a home, the school zone is a huge factor for most parents. There are a wide variety of different options in the Bay County area, and it can be difficult for new parents or people just moving here to make an informed choice on where to send their children for the best chance at success. Below, take a look at some of the best options in town so you can choose in which area to start looking for that forever home!
Elementary Schools:
There are an abundance of Elementary Schools in the Bay County area, making this category a tough one to choose from. Currently, the only "A" rated school is Tyndall Elementary, which has kept their test scores and promotion rate consistently high for many years in a row. Both Deer Point and Hutchison Beach Elementary have pulled their scores up from a "C" to a "B" this year by increasing leadership and meeting testing goals. A majority of the other elementary schools came in at a "C" or "D" ranking, with only Cherry Street and Cedar Grove obtaining an "F" grade.
Middle Schools:
The selection of Middle Schools is much smaller in Bay County, with 5 main schools providing service to children from 6th to 8th grades. Surfside Middle School comes in at the top of the list, achieving an "A" rating for this past year, up from a "B." Mowat is a close second, maintaining their "B" average. Merritt Brown, at the east end of the county, came in at a "C" ranking, and both Everitt and Jinks Middle Schools obtained "Ds" for the past grading period.
High Schools:
There are 4 public high schools in the Panama City Area, with Mosley High coming in at the #1 spot, having maintained an "A" rating for many years. Arnold High on Panama City Beach has dropped this year from an "A" to a "C", as has Bay High in downtown Panama City. Rutherford High dropped to a "C" this year from a "B" last year, making Mosley the only High school in the area with a top rating.
Alternative Options:
There are also other options provided in our area if you prefer not to go the public school route. Bay Haven Charter Academy has campus locations for children of all grades, and each one has consistently maintained a top rating since their inception. Admission is done on a lottery basis, so you will have to enter your child's name and hope they get picked, but the schools do provide bus service from many different areas of the county as they do not have an official zoning area. Oakland Terrace School of Visual and Performing Arts, Rising Leaders Academy, and the University Academy are all privately owned and run, and require an application and tuition. These are great options for kids or parents who are looking for more unique teaching styles.
Overall, the Bay County area is a great location for schooling for children of all ages, but the Beach and Lynn Haven school zones consistently provide exceptional learning experiences and high achievement levels. These are definitely things to keep in mind when deciding where to purchase your family's new home!
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