Many in our community believe a Destin-based high school is long overdue. In recent months, headway has been made in finally achieving the dream for a local high school within safe driving distance for our local high schoolers.
Currently, Destin high schoolers attend either Niceville or Fort Walton. But commute times to these schools can be more than 30 minutes, and those buildings are reaching or are at capacity. These factors, compounded by positive growth and development in Destin, are driving the decision to put a high school in Destin.
The Okaloosa County School Board approved the Destin high school’s charter application On April 22nd. The next steps in the process will be the announcement of the school’s location and the board will continue to raise funds needed to staff and stock the new school.
The county school board has 30 days to come up with a charter contract now that the charter application is approved. Once the charter school board receives it, they will have a set time to review it and make edits before sending the final contract for approval. The school will officially get the go-ahead if the county school board approves the contract. The governing board will then start designing the curriculum and searching for a principal, faculty and staff. The school plans to open for the 2020-2021 school year for grades 9 and 10.
The Destin area will see added benefits from having a local high school. Strong schools mean strong communities. This leads to a stronger tax base, higher property values, and continued development and reinvestment. It’s an ongoing cycle that would benefit Destin for years to come. And by easing overcrowding at the other high schools, Destin High School will indirectly benefit those communities.
Destin High School will be structured as a charter school. A recent article on thedestinlog.com addresses the concept of a charter school and what this means for Destin. In short, by opting for a charter school, the administrators will have greater flexibility in how the school is structured and how it operates day-to-day.
If you are looking for a new home in Destin, now is a great time to be looking—before property values start to increase. Our team would love to help you find your next home. Contact us at 850-812-3261, or info@NathanAbbottTeam.com.
Image from: https://www.facebook.com/destinhighschool
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Nathan Abbott
ResortQuest Real Estate | Broker Associate, Realtor®
Nathan Abbott Team | CEO
850.812.3261
Info@NathanAbbottTeam.com
