Education

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Bay District Schools

Bay District schools deliver high quality education in a collaborative, safe, and respectful environment. Our commitment is to inspire students in the development of character with the acquisition and use of knowledge and skills as we prepare them for life and work in a diverse, global economy.

The Superintendent, School Board, school leaders, teachers, and staff are wholly committed to educational excellence with consistent, incremental improvement in student achievement. There are learning opportunities for ALL students, from the intellectually gifted to the academically challenged. Special needs students are served in traditional schools throughout the county and also in several targeted special purpose schools.

Middle and high school students have the advantage of preparing for experiences beyond high school with a broad range of advanced academic programs and career education opportunities.

The installation and integration of advanced hardware and software allows educators to tap into and engage students through the digital world to which they are accustomed. Multimedia instructional tools give teachers and students an edge in the classroom with interactive white board lesson delivery, connection to global resources and devices that provide immediate student assessment as instruction is delivered.

Students and schools also benefit from award-winning business partnerships and a legion of mentors and volunteers through the support of business leaders, military ranks, and community members.

Additionally, thanks to our community’s renewal of a half-cent sales tax, our schools are undergoing sweeping safety and security enhancements, a revolving renovation schedule and an ongoing upgrade of technology.

41 Schools

  • 5 High Schools
  • 6 Middle Schools
  • 18 Elementary Schools
  • 2 Combined Grade Level Schools (PreK-8 and PreK-12)
  • 3 Special Purpose Schools
  • 6 Charter Schools
  • 1 Virtual School

26,566 Students

Educational services are provided to an additional 1,000 students in adult education and other educational programs outside the public school district.

  • Ethnicity
    • White = 17,169/64.64%
    • African American = 3,698/13.92%
    • Hispanic = 3,202/12.06%
    • Other = 2,490/9.38% (i.e., American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander and multi-racial)
  • Free/Reduced Lunch Recipients = 18,229/69.6%
  • Disabled Students/5,096
  • Homeless Students/1,439
  • English Language Learners(ELL)/1,257
    • 37 different languages spoken by ELL students from 50 countries
  • Graduating Seniors
    • Students are recognized in the National Merit Scholarship program every year
    • Federal Graduation Rate (Standard Diploma) District
      • A. Crawford Mosley High School/95%
      • Bay High School/94%
      • J.R. Arnold High School/96%
      • Rutherford High School/88%
      • Deane Bozeman High School/94%

Employees 

The Bay School District is one of the top employers in Bay County.

  •  More than 3,372 full time employees
    • Instructional Staff/63%
    • School Administrators/4%
    • District Administrators/1.7%
    • Professional/Non-Professional Support Staff/28%
  • Teachers
  • Starting Salaries (with 0 years experience); Average Salary = $44,500; Average Years Experience = 12.5 years
    • Bachelor’s degree/$36,000
    • Master’s degree/$38,500
    • Specialist degree/$41,100
    • Doctorate degree/$44,800

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

K-8 School

K-12 School

Special Purpose Schools

Adult/Career & Technical School

Charter Schools

Virtual School

For more information on Bay District Schools, visit their website or call (850)767-4100.

Private Schools

Covenant Christian School – (850)769-7448

The right education opens doors, but a classical and Christian education will prepare your child for life and eternity. The heartbeat of Covenant Christian School is rigorous academics, loving personal attention, and a daily Biblical focus in all subjects as seen from a Christian world and life view. Students learn to see the big picture of history and time through the integrated study of Literature, Theology, History, Latin, Logic, Math, Science, Physical Education, Music and Art. CCS students rank among the highest in their peer groups on the nationally standardized IOWA Assessments. CCS, where students learn to love and love to learn to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Nativity Episcopal School – (850)747-0060

Serving Bay County for nearly 6o years, Holy Nativity Episcopal School provides an education for students from pre-K through 8th grade. Accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council, Holy Nativity has integrated, advanced subject area course work, as well as education in the Arts and personal fitness. Before and after-school care is available daily. Holy Nativity, like fellow members of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, is an inclusive Christian environment welcoming students of diverse religions, races, and economic backgrounds. Tours of the campus, a historic landmark in Bay County, can be arranged by contacting the Office of Admissions.

AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute – (850)872-4715

The AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute (PCMI), established in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to redirect and motivate at-risk youth to accept responsibility for their actions, develop respect for themselves and others, and become productive members of the community. PCMI operates a maritime themed alternative school for middle through high school students who are in danger of dropping out. Kids can learn scuba and seamanship while they work towards a diploma or a GED. Career and technical education courses are offered in food service and carpentry as well.

St. John Catholic School – (850)763-1775

St. John Catholic School is a vibrant community made up of families, teachers, and community members who believe a Catholic education is essential in creating children who love God and will excel in the future. We provide a foundation in which students realize their full potential in school and beyond, by teaching academic and life lessons within a spiritual context. Our unique classes are sized to allow for highly individualized attention. Students use resources that keep them engaged and learning, helping our students rank among the top private schools nationally, and we expect nothing less.

Colleges

Gulf Coast State CollegeGulf Coast State College

(850)769-1551

Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) provides a first-class education with an emphasis on success, regardless of students’ academic background or age, focusing on their dreams and goals. Gulf Coast offers more than 150 program and certificate options focused on quality and practicality, and because the College has the lowest in-state tuition rate of any other state college or university in Florida, a degree from GCSC is a tremendous value.

Our students continue to be the best advertising as approximately 92% of students would recommend Gulf Coast to others, and just one year after graduating, 95% of our students are hired in their field with an average wage of $43,736. These numbers are an important indicator of student achievements while at Gulf Coast and beyond.

The College offers four bachelor’s degrees in Digital Media, Technology Management, Nursing and Organizational Management with specializations in Entrepreneurship, Health Services Administration and Emergency Services Administration. Students may pursue an Associate in Arts degree with 75 different program options, or workforce-specific Associate in Science degrees and technical certifications, including our most popular programs in Culinary/Hospitality, Unmanned Vehicle Systems, Health Sciences, Engineering Technology and the Educator Preparation Institute for teaching.

Gulf Coast State College graduates are extremely successful, whether transferring to state universities or completing GCSC’s four year degrees. The College serves more than 10,000 students annually in traditional classes, online courses, Corporate College and professional training courses. In addition, GCSC is also recognized as one of the top-tier, military friendly colleges in the country, providing a supportive environment for active duty, reservist and dependents as well as veterans. Classes are offered at convenient times and in multiple locations, as well as online and distance education courses. GCSC holds classes at the Main Campus in Panama City, the North Bay Campus in Southport, Tyndall Air Force Base and the Gulf/Franklin Campus in Port St. Joe.

Florida State University Panama CityFlorida State University Panama City

(850)872-4750

FSU Panama City offers students the opportunity to earn a nationally recognized Florida State University degree, while providing a four-year undergraduate experience on a beautiful waterfront campus. FSU Panama City offers liberal studies courses and lower-division prerequisites required to complete any of the high-demand undergraduate degrees with smaller class sizes and more one-on-one support.

FSU is ranked 26th among all public national universities in U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 America’s Best Colleges, and aspires to be in the top 25 nationwide within the next several years. In 2018, U.S. News and World Report recognized FSU as the No. 2 most efficient of the nation’s highest ranked universities, and Military Times ranked Florida State No. 22 in the latest “Best Colleges 2018” rankings, which are published annually by the magazine.

Undergraduate and graduate degree programs at FSU Panama City include Electrical, Computer, Civil, Mechanical and Systems Engineering; Computer Science; Public Safety and Security; Business; Entrepreneurship; Education; Psychology; Social Work; Recreation, Tourism and Events; Nurse Anesthesia and much more.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Computer Science (an ABET-accredited program) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Computer Science are available on campus or online. The Public Safety and Security B.S. program, which offers major tracks in Crime Scene Investigation, Law Enforcement Operations and Law Enforcement Intelligence, also is available on campus or online. The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program is designed to develop critical-care nurses into top-tier clinical practitioners who provide patient care before, during and after surgical procedures, and emphasize analysis, evaluation and decision-making rather than memorization.

The high-quality, personalized educational experience is enhanced by the Holley Academic Center’s state-of-the-art academic laboratories, “smart technology” classrooms and high-tech online library and learning center.

Troy University

(850)747-0634

With two locations to serve the residents of Bay County, Troy University offers a variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in traditional in-class settings or through our TROY Online programs. Adult students choose TROY for the high quality courses and wide range of academic programs that are offered in multiple, flexible formats. With over 125 years of experience in education, TROY is regionally accredited and prepares you to make more than a living; Troy University prepares you to make a life.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

(850)283-4557

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is known for more than just world-class aviation and aerospace programs. ERAU offers degree options ranging from Project Management to Engineering. The Embry-Riddle Tyndall/Panama City Campus offers 16 bachelor’s degrees, and 20 master’s degrees, plus 4+1 degree programs that earn a bachelor and master degree in five years. ERAU, located at Tyndall Air Force Base, has been working with U.S. Military service members and civilians since 1970. We have more than 130 worldwide locations, and more than 90 campuses on military installations around the globe. Our flexible degree delivery methods include courses in a classroom, webcam based system of learning, online, and blended. Whatever your learning style—ERAU has you covered.

Haney Technical College

(850)767-5500

For over 50 years, Tom P. Haney Technical College has trained Bay County’s skilled workforce by offering a wide selection of career and technical education (CTE) programs. With hands-on learning and nationally-recognized certification opportunities, Haney offers the training necessary to meet the needs of local and regional manufacturers and businesses who require skilled workers and addresses the current skills gap for in-demand careers that require specialized training.

Career fields offered at Haney include Administrative Office Specialist, Aviation Mechanics (Airframe & Powerplant), Automotive Collision Repair, Automotive Service Mechanic 1 & 2, Computer Systems & Information Technology, Cosmetology, Electrical Trades (Electrician & Electricity), Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) 1 & 2, Marine Mechanics, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Specialist, Practical Nursing, Welding Technology, and Welding Technology – Advanced.

Tuition at Haney is extremely affordable when compared to many other post-secondary schools. Total program costs, including tuition, books, and supplies, range from $2,600 to $6,568 for program completion based on in-state tuition. All students are eligible to apply for scholarships. Additional funding sources are also available, including Federal Financial Aid, Veteran Benefits, Florida Bright Futures, Florida Prepaid, and Career Source Gulf Coast funding for those who qualify.