Enrollment
264
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Defuniak Springs, FL
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)
Federal NCES profile for Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120198007690
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Florida schools.
- #2 of 7
- schools in Defuniak Springs · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- small classes for Florida
- 67.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) has class sizes smaller than 87% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) ranks #2 of 7 schools in Defuniak Springs, FL.
School address
NCES ID 120198007690 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.6:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
-29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.9%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+31% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Defuniak Springs, Florida, enrolling 264 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.6:1, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) is leaner than roughly 87% of Florida schools and 29% under the state's 17.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 264 puts it in the smaller third of Florida schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 240 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #111.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 264 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Walton also operates South Walton High School (1,127 students) and Freeport Elementary School (1,120 students) alongside Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise).
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) compares
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.6:1 | ▼ 29% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.9% | ▲ 31% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 264 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
264
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 13% in Florida - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,790
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 264 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 64.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
African American 8.7%
Two or More 8.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 64.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.0, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) is about as mixed as the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Walton, which includes Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise).
$11,790
Per student
+6%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 75.6%
State 11.8%
Federal 12.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freeport Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walton High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dune Lakes Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Van R. Butler Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,127
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 969
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 924
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 914
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~264 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)'s federal record.
- Compare Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) against another school. Compare schools
- Walton's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)
How many students attend Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)?
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) has 264 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Defuniak Springs, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)?
The student-teacher ratio at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) is 12.6:1, which is 29% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)?
67.9% of students at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)?
The largest demographic group at Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) is White at 64.4% of enrollment, in Defuniak Springs, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise)?
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) rank among schools in Defuniak Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) ranks #2 of 7 schools in Defuniak Springs, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Defuniak Springs on the city page.
Is Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) a good school?
Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise) earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Walton?
Besides Walton Initiative for Success in Education (Wise), Walton also operates South Walton High School (1,127 students), Freeport Elementary School (1,120 students), and Walton High School (969 students). See the Walton district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.