Latest news with #BakerSchool
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The latest school and school district grades are out. How did Okaloosa County fare?
The Okaloosa County School District has again scored an A on its report card for what it calls its 'unwavering commitment to academic excellence across all grade levels.' Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on July 7 that improvements were registered in K-12 school performance across all school types statewide. In fact, 71% of all graded schools (2,461 schools) earned either an A or B grade, compared to 64% (2,215) of schools last year. Florida charter schools are also thriving, with 77% earning A or B grades. The Okaloosa district scored a total of 793 points, up from 772 in 2023–2024. Additionally, 92% of Okaloosa schools earned an A or B, an increase from 86% the previous year. The district also maintained an 88% graduation rate and made gains in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as well as civics. Okaloosa is one of only three districts in Florida to earn an A grade every year school grades have been issued since 2014. In a news release announcing the 2024-25 district and school grades, Okaloosa Superintendent Marcus Chambers said, 'Once again, Okaloosa County has demonstrated what is possible when students, teachers, families and school leaders work together toward a common goal. "Earning an A rating is a reflection of the high standards we hold ourselves to as a district and our shared belief in continuous improvement. I'm deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff and administrators, whose efforts continue to make a difference in the lives of our students.' In the news release, the district touted the following statistics: Schools earning an A increased from 15 to 19 Schools earning a B decreased from 17 to 15 Schools earning a C decreased from 5 to 3 Baker School, Bruner Middle, Davidson Middle and Walker Elementary improved from B in 2023-24 to A in 2024-25. Choctawhatchee High School, Edwins Elementary and Shalimar Elementary improved from C to B. Fort Walton Beach High School, Meigs Middle and Northwood Elementary were 1 point away from earning A grades. For a full listing of school and district grades, for this year and past years, visit the Daily News' data site at This tool also allows readers to check how all other Florida districts and schools fared in 2024-25 and in past years. Likewise, full information for Walton County, whose school district also maintained its A grade, can be found at In an email statement received July 8, Chambers said Okaloosa's high rating is the result of a 'collective effort by passionate educators, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to meeting students where they are.' The district has emphasized ongoing professional development of teachers, used specific strategies to focus on English language arts and civics, and adjusted instruction in real time to make sure students grow and meet the goals. 'By integrating innovative technologies — such as virtual reality goggles and Clear Touch panels — we're enhancing instruction in subjects like biology, geometry, and algebra, making learning more engaging and accessible. We've also prioritized acceleration opportunities in middle school and expanded college and career readiness initiatives,' Chambers said. 'I couldn't be more proud of the incredible efforts of our students, educators, and school communities — and what we've accomplished together.' 'Florida's use of statewide progress monitoring is yet another example of how Florida leads on education,' DeSantis said in a news release announcing the grades. 'Providing more opportunities for parents and teachers to intervene in a child's performance in school leads to better outcomes and a higher quality education.' Statewide, 71% of graded schools (2,461 schools) earned an A or B in 2025 compared to 64% (2,215 schools) in 2024. And 44% of all schools earned an A, up from 38% in 2024. The number of schools earning a D or F decreased from 117 in 2024 to 71 in 2025. As for school districts statewide: For 2024-25, 28 districts received an A, 31 districts received a B, eight districts received a C. No districts received a D or F. Our story from 2024: Okaloosa and Walton counties retain A ratings in new Florida school district ratings Among Florida's charter schools, 77 percent (480) of graded charter schools earned an A or B, and 68% (412 schools) either increased their grade or maintained an A. Jim Ross contributed This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa County, Florida reflects on 2024-25 school and district grades
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Candlelight vigil held in honor of Kadance former Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A small Panhandle community says goodbye to a young woman struck down in the prime of her life. Okaloosa County residents gathered on Wednesday night at the Baker High School football field for a candlelight vigil in honor of 18-year-old Kadance Fredericksen. Kadance was killed Monday afternoon in Santa Rosa County in a head-on traffic crash. She was a former Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA and the Founder of 'Kada's Promise'. Family members, plan to continue 'Kada's Promise' in her honor. Parents of two teens injured by drunk driver in Panama City Beach file lawsuit The charity donated more than 12,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in need. Kadance had already received nine college acceptances and had plans to become a veterinarian. During Wednesday's vigil, friends and family shared their fondest memories of her. 'That this many people came together because they love her and they want to honor the legacy that she's leaving. I think it's important to focus on her legacy and Kata's promise and how uplifting she was to everybody and how she serves as a beacon of hope and light for not just young women, but young people across the world,' one vigil attendee said. A celebration of Kadance's life will be held on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. inside the multi-purpose room of Baker School. Organizers are expecting as many as a thousand people to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Community gathers to honor Kadance Fredericksen at candlelight vigil in Baker
BAKER, Fla. (WKRG) — Over 100 people gathered on the Baker School football field Wednesday night to honor Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old who died in a head-on crash earlier this week. The vigil was a moment of remembrance and reflection as friends, family and classmates lit candles and donated teddy bears — a tribute to Kada's Promise, the charity Kadance founded to provide comfort to children who have suffered abuse and trauma. 'The process was working well': ICE detainees no longer held in Baldwin County Jail Some attendees shared personal stories about Kadance, highlighting her kindness and dedication to helping others. 'Even though I'm older than her, I look up to her in a way,' one of Fredericksen's friends said. 'I know that she's always with us and that she has touched so many people.' Kadance was a former Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA and a well-known figure in the community. Through Kada's Promise, she donated more than 12,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in need. Her impact extended beyond Baker, inspiring young people across the region. 'It's important to focus on her legacy and Kada's Promise and how uplifting she was to everybody and how she serves as a beacon of hope and light for not just young women, but young people across the world,' one vigil attendee said. Kadance was killed Monday afternoon in a head-on crash on State Road 4, east of Hurricane Lake Road in Santa Rosa County. Troopers said her sedan crossed the centerline, colliding with a tractor-trailer carrying wood chips. She was pronounced dead at the scene while the 56-year-old truck driver from Milton suffered minor injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol's Traffic Homicide and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division is investigating. 'It hurt to the core': Fairhope woman reunited with what's left of husband's memorial bench from pier renovations Her family said Kada's Promise will continue in her honor, and they are asking for donations instead of flowers to help carry on her mission. A celebration of life is planned for Saturday where the community will gather once again to remember Kadance and the legacy she left behind. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Beacon of light': Florida teen pageant queen who gave teddy bears to neglected kids dies in crash
The Florida pageant community is mourning after one of its teen delegates was killed Monday in a crash. Kadance Fredericksen, 18, hit a semi-tractor-trailer head-on while traveling east on Highway 4 at Hurricane Lake Road in Santa Rosa County according to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports. Authorities said the other driver was a 56-year-old man from Milton who suffered minor injuries. She was the current title holder of Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA. Miss Florida USA paid tribute to Fredericksen on Instagram, saying in part: 'Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul - one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Fredericksen was a senior at Baker School in Okaloosa County. The school posted about her charity work with Kada's Promise, the organization she founded, saying in part: 'Kadance was a beacon of light in our community, known for her compassion, tireless advocacy for children in need, and unwavering dedication to making a difference. Through her efforts with Kada's Promise, she brought hope and comfort to thousands of children experiencing trauma, collecting and distributing over 12,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in need. Her work inspired us all, and her legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched.' It is with profound sadness that we mourn the tragic loss of Kadance Fredericksen, an exceptional young woman, senior at... Posted by Baker School on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] On the Kada's Promise website, Fredericksen said her inspiration to begin the organization was borne from her childhood trauma and how a teddy bear she was gifted with would bring her comfort: 'Kada's Promise is probably my greatest accomplishment to date. It is my life's story,' she wrote. 'Yes, it is painful to think back to those dark days in my life, but all of that disappears when I meet a scared and lonely little girl in a shelter and get to hand her a stuffed animal, probably the first she's ever owned. Her eyes fill with sparkle, her smile stretches wider and wider. I am so blessed that my pain was temporary and now I get to use my story to temporarily take someone else's pain away.' Baker School will be holding a vigil on Wednesday night to honor Fredericksen's memory. People who attend have been encouraged to bring teddy bears to be donated to Kada's Promise. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Miss Teen USA Florida Contender, 18, Dies In Car Crash
A high school senior and contender for the title of Miss Teen USA Florida is dead after a car crash in her home state. People are mourning young philanthropist and pageant competitor Kadance Fredericksen, 18, following a head-on collision between her sedan and a tractor-trailer in Florida's Santa Rosa County on Monday. Florida Highway Patrol released details about the crash on Wednesday, saying that Fredericksen's vehicle 'crossed the center line and entered the eastbound lane,' according to the Pensacola News Journal. Authorities are investigating what caused Fredericksen's vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic but believe a 'major mechanical error' was to blame, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The other driver was a 56-year-old male who suffered minor injuries after his truck made its way to the outside shoulder of the freeway and overturned, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Fredericksen was Miss Okaloosa County Teen's representative at last year's Miss Florida Teen USA pageant. A student at Baker School, she had just been accepted to nine colleges and was planning to study to be a veterinarian. Fredericksen also founded the charity Kada's Promise in 2017, calling it her 'greatest accomplishment to date.' Through the project she had donated 14,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in foster care, homeless shelters, abuse shelters and hospitals. Her work with Kada's Promise earned her eight gold presidential Volunteer Service Awards, according to her Instagram. Baker School principal Michael J. Martello remembered Fredericksen as an 'exceptional young woman' in a Facebook post on Tuesday, calling her 'a beacon of light in our community.' South Korean Actor Kim Sae-Ron Found Dead At 24 At Least 9 People Are Dead, Including 8 In Kentucky, In Latest Blast Of Winter Weather Man Assaulted Staff At Florida Bar, Said Trump Would Deport Them: Police
