Area Schools

Panama City Area

Naval Support Activity Panama City is located in Bay County, Florida. Bay District Schools offers 18 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools, 2 multi-grade schools (K-8 and K-12), 3 special purpose schools, 1 adult/technical college, 6 charter schools, and 1 virtual school.

Please contact the School Liaison to inquire and get clarification on the school districts process/policy regarding School Choice.

Public Schools Serving the Military Housing and Community Neighborhoods in Panama City

Patronis Elementary (K-5): 7400 Patronis Drive; (850) 767-5075

Surfside Middle (6-8): 300 Nautilus Street, (850) 767-5180

Bay High (9-12): 1200 Harrison Avenue; (850) 767-4600

Families selecting non-military housing, can find their school zone here.

Learn more about how Bay District supports military families here.

Purple Star Schools

Many schools in Escambia County School District has earned the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation. The purpose of the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation is to recognize schools that support the unique needs of military families, help military-connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for military-connected students when transitioning to a new school environment.

Dress Code

Bay District Schools do not mandate student uniforms. However, they Families should review the school's "Student Handbook" on the school's website to learn about their dress code policies.

Transportation

Families must complete Bus Registration Form to request transportation services. Students are eligible for transportation if they are enrolled in Bay County District Schools and they live greater than or equal to 2 miles.

Choice (Special Transfer Option) School Transportation: District transportation is NOT provided to a special transfer option student; transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

If you have additional questions, contact the Transportation department here.

Charter Schools

Bay County has 6 charter schools serving grades Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. Each charter school has its own governing board that oversees the operation of the charter school. To learn more click here.

Private Schools

The Florida Department of Education does not oversee private schools, but it does maintain a comprehensive database of private schools. There are 18 private schools in the Bay County area. An area directory may be found here.

Private school addresses, phone numbers, school administrators, grade span, programs offered, and enrollment by grade can be found on the Florida Department of Education's Private School Directory, which lists private schools that meet General Requirements for Florida Private Schools.

Homeschooling

Families who choose to homeschool their child(ren) have three (3) statutory requirements. To learn more details, please click here. For homeschool events hosted by our program, please contact the School Liaison.

Immunizations

For more information about school immunization requirements and resources, visit the Florida Department of Health.

Choosing a School

We know the importance of choosing a school that best meets the needs of your military child(ren). Even though School Liaisons are unable to make direct recommendations for schools, we are available to help you acquire information and research the schools within NRSE. We can provide overall information on districts as well as help you determine what schools you might be zoned to once you have a residence. Academic, demographic, and fiscal information on Florida schools can be found using the following resources: Florida Schools Report Card.

Out of Zone Student Transfer

Families interested in attending a school outside of their assigned neighborhood school should reach out to the School Liaison to learn of Florida state policies and procedures.

Military Interstate Compact

The Military Interstate Compact (MIC) is an article of laws to help make transition easier for children of military families so that they may be afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals. The MIC provides support with placement, enrollment, extracurricular activities, senior moves and more! The MIC only covers students enrolled in U.S. Public Schools and DoDEA Schools. It does not apply to students enrolled in private schools, homeschools or international schools. Additional information can be found at: www.mic3.net.