In Santa Rosa County, a 2026-27 FES-EO, FTC or PEP scholarship pays $8,3101 for K-3 and $7,5351 for high school; FES-UA pays from $9,6992 up to $34,5012 depending on grade and matrix level. The county had 163 registered private schools in 2024-25. Families apply through a scholarship funding organization: Step Up For Students, AAA Scholarship Foundation or Sunshine State Kids Foundation.
Award amounts in Santa Rosa County, 2026-27
| Program and level | K-3 (FES-UA: ages 3-4 and K-3) | Grades 4-8 | Grades 9-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FES-EO, FTC and PEP | $8,310 | $7,726 | $7,535 |
| FES-UA, matrix levels 1-3 or a diagnosis | $10,474 | $9,890 | $9,699 |
| FES-UA, matrix level 4 (254) | $21,451 | same | same |
| FES-UA, matrix level 5 (255) | $34,501 | same | same |
2025-26 comparison and ranking: Santa Rosa County scholarship amounts.
State FES funding for Santa Rosa County, 2026-27
The Family Empowerment Scholarships are funded through each school district's share of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). The Legislature's 2026-27 budget counts students in unweighted full-time equivalents (UFTE), a funding measure rather than a headcount.
| Program | Students funded (UFTE) | Funds |
|---|---|---|
| FES-EO | 2,475.5 | $19,632,867 |
| FES-UA | 1,235.5 | $13,406,566 |
| Total | 3,711 | $33,039,433 |
Private schools in Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County had 163 private schools that filed Florida's annual private-school survey for 2024-25, enrolling 2,8575 students from pre-K through grade 12. This counts every registered private school, not only those taking scholarships, and the survey data are self-reported. A directory of Santa Rosa County schools is coming in the next update of this site.
Students funded through Step Up For Students, 2024-25
| Program | Funded students |
|---|---|
| FES-EO | 1,895 |
| FES-UA | 764 |
| FTC (private school) | 381 |
| PEP | 1,229 |
| New Worlds Scholarship Accounts | 139 |
Funded-student counts that Step Up For Students reported to the State Board of Education in its 2026-27 renewal application. Students funded by AAA Scholarship Foundation or Sunshine State Kids Foundation are not included, so these are not county totals.
Languages spoken at home
In Santa Rosa County, 3.22%7 of residents aged 5 and older speak Spanish at home and 0.42%7 speak French, Haitian or Cajun (the Census group that includes Haitian Creole), according to the American Community Survey. Spanish-language guides to these programs are planned for this site.
Programs available to Santa Rosa County families
- Private-school scholarship (FES-EO and FTC)
- FES-UA (Unique Abilities Scholarship)
- PEP (Personalized Education Program): closed to new students for 2026-27
- Transportation Stipend for public-school choice
- Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarships, starting in 2027
Dates: deadlines · payment dates · Questions: eligibility FAQ · All 67 counties
Sources
- 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts: FTC/FES-EO/PEP by District · p.1 · as stated by Step Up For Students · verified on
- 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts: FES-UA by District · p.1 · as stated by Step Up For Students · verified on
- FDOE Private Schools 2024-25 Annual Report (via Wayback snapshot 2026-06-14) · p. 5 "Number of Private Schools by District, 2024-25" · as stated by Florida Department of Education · verified on · prior-year figure
- Public School Funding: The FEFP FY 2026-27, Conference Report for HB 5001E (May 26, 2026) · p.9 · as stated by Florida Legislature · verified on
- FDOE, Florida's Private Schools 2024-25 Annual Report · pp.4-5 · as stated by Florida Department of Education · verified on
- Step Up For Students 2026-2027 SFO Renewal Application packet (SBE item 10-2) · Annual Report on Student Demographics, county x grade tables · as stated by State Board of Education · verified on
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table-based summary files · GEO_ID 0500000US12113; C16001, B16004, B04006_E101, B05006_E147 · as stated by U.S. Census Bureau · verified on