SWA has brought so many great needed services and resources to our community. My family and many others are truly grateful for all they have done and continue to do for our children and families.
I am a high school student at SWA and over the past seven years, I have gotten so much out of this school! I have formed many great relationships with the staff and my classmates. South Walton Academy is for all students of all abilities, with specific accommodations for everyone whether they’re on the spectrum or not. With the help and support of my teachers and peers, I will be graduating a year early! I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people everyday who do so much for me along with all the other students. One thing I would would like to add about me and my friends getting a private education, is that we are still able to participate in sports at South Walton High School. Doing so, has expanded our friendships, and our appreciation for our awesome Santa Rosa Beach community.
South Walton Academy has changed our lives forever! We are indebted to the school, teachers, aids, therapists, and staff for the rest of our lives.
We put our daughter in “preschool” the summer before she turned 2. It was a very small school with limited teachers, staff, and space. Our daughter had never been anywhere but home or with family before starting the first school, and at times she is a lot to handle. She had a difficult time adjusting, and ultimately began to dread school- screaming, crying, clinging at drop off. We decided to pull her from school and searched for somewhere new. Then we found South Walton Academy.
We started SWA in the fall only sending her part time. From day one she LOVED school. If I told her before bed she was going to school the next morning, she would stay awake all night in excitement ready for school! The child who clung to us now SPRINTS into school. She is attending SWA full time, and absolutely loves it. She went from not speaking to talking so much. She has learned boundaries, routines, and social expectations. Her behaviors have improved significantly. We truly feel that SWA is our family now. Her teachers go above and beyond to love and teach our child. Nothing makes my heart happier than to see my child love going to school.
I would recommend SWA to any and every person looking for a loving and enriching environment for their child. Thank you South Walton Academy!
I found South Walton Academy after my son started with Early Steps in 2017 just after he turned two years old. Through that I met Ms. Calley. My son had limited speech that we could understand and struggled with many things. He started attending South Walton Academy in August 2018 and we haven’t looked back since. He went from very limited speech and not showing interest in group play to now loving going to school every single day and seeing his teachers, therapist for both speech and occupational therapy and playing with all of his friends.
The staff were so helpful and extremely supportive when it came to getting my son evaluated and when I got his diagnosis (ASD) they were there for me and helped explain everything and helped me get him the help he needed and into therapies that have helped him so much.
This school has been more of a home for us than anything. They know my son and all of his needs and they truly care for him and all of the children there. My daughter (3 years old) started this August and she wakes up ready to go to school to learn and play with her friends.
I can’t thank the staff at South Walton Academy enough for all that they have done over the years. And I’m glad I am part of the SWA family and look forward to seeing them grow more over the next few years.
South Walton Academy is our saving grace for our son! This is the best school with THE BEST teachers, therapists and staff that support a wide range of needs! They believe in our children and give them the support and care that they deserve!!!
We started our Daughter (who is on the autism spectrum) a year ago at South Walton Academy and have been so pleased! We transferred her from public school and my daughters whole attitude about school changed! She made friends not only with peers but with the Teachers and staff. Everyone is so welcoming and always willing to help in anyway they can. We’re so thrilled to see our Daughter succeed and be happy at school thanks to South Walton Academy!
This school has been amazing!! My son has been to a few schools in the area before and this was a perfect fit for his season in life. The teachers provide ample communication and support. My son has some developmental delays and the staff and teachers (and other parents!!) have been such a system of support - encouraging when we hit valleys and celebrated when we hit high points. So appreciative and thankful for the hand holding I so desperately needed. We are looking forward to therapy services that are offered on site and all teachers are ESE certified and have great communication with each other. This is important to me since it’s a fairly smaller school but they all know how to care for my son and work together to provide excellent one one one and small group care - academically and emotionally for each student.