Bay District Schools runs Panama City's public schools. Bay High and Rutherford High earned C grades in 2026. School zones, calendar and registration.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: Bay District Schools, its academic calendar, student registration and School Board pages, and the Florida Department of Education’s 2025-26 school grades.
Public schools in Panama City are run by Bay District Schools, a countywide district led by Superintendent Mark McQueen from the Nelson Administrative Building, 1311 Balboa Ave. Which school your child attends depends on your address. Charter schools and a virtual school are also open to Bay County students.
Every public school in Panama City, with its zone and report card: Panama City public schools.
Who to call
- Bay District Schools main office: 850-767-4100
- Registration, school zones and school choice: Student Services, 850-767-4328; school choice coordinator, 850-767-4539
- Pre-K and VPK: 850-767-4201
- Testing and school grades: Assessment and Accountability, 850-767-4352
- Official pages: School Zone and Bus Route search, Focus parent portal
Storm days. Fall break is today, Friday, Oct. 9, and the district’s calendar also lists it as a storm day if needed. Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12, is a holiday for students and teachers. With Hurricane Isaias passing over the area, check the district’s website and social media before Tuesday for any change.
Which school is mine?
Every public school has an attendance zone. Look up yours with the district’s School Zone and Bus Route search or Bay County’s school attendance zone map.
School choice. Bay District Schools runs a controlled school choice program. Students already enrolled can ask for a different school through the parent portal. Charter schools and Bay Virtual School take their own applications.
How to register
All registration is online, from home or at your zoned school, through the Focus parent portal. New students use the BDS Online Application; returning students use the re-enrollment form. The school should contact you within three days. Bring or upload:
- The student’s birth certificate
- The enrolling parent’s government-issued photo ID
- Two proofs of address, such as a lease or deed, a recent utility bill or a property tax record
- Within 30 school days: a medical exam from the past 12 months and current shot records. Families moving from another state must have the shot record converted to Florida’s Form 680 through the health department.
Children must be 5 on or before Sept. 1 to start kindergarten. Free public pre-K (VPK) is for children who are 4 by Sept. 1; families also need a certificate of eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition.
The 2026-27 calendar
From the district’s 2026-27 student calendar:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 | First day of school |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Fall break (storm day if needed) |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | Columbus Day, no school |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21 | First-quarter report cards |
| Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Teacher planning day, no school for students |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Nov. 23-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | End of first semester |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 4 | Winter break; students return Tuesday, Jan. 5 |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school |
| Monday, Feb. 15 | Presidents Day, no school |
| March 15-19 | Spring break |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday, no school |
| Wednesday, May 26 | Last day of school, early release |
Graduations: Bay High on May 19, Rutherford High on May 24 and Mosley High on May 20.
School grades
Florida grades every public school A to F each summer from state test results and, for high schools, graduation and college and career acceleration rates. Bay County’s 40 graded schools earned 20 A’s, nine B’s, nine C’s, two D’s and no F’s in 2026.
The district lists these schools in School Board District 3, which includes Bay High and Rutherford High. Their grades from the state’s 2025-26 file:
| School | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Bay High School | C | B |
| Rutherford High School | C | C |
| Jinks Middle School | C | C |
| Cedar Grove Elementary | B | C |
| Northside Elementary | B | C |
| Lucille Moore Elementary | D | C |
| Oscar Patterson Academy | D | B |
Other high schools in the county: A. Crawford Mosley High (A both years) and J.R. Arnold High (B both years). Rosenwald High and St. Andrew Academy, also in District 3, did not receive a grade. Test scores, graduation rates and more for each school are on the state’s EDStats school report cards.
The School Board
Five members are elected countywide in nonpartisan races, though each must live in the district they represent: Jerry Register (District 1), Ann Leonard (District 2), Chris Moore (District 3), Winston Chester (District 4) and Steve Moss (District 5). The board meets at the Nelson Administrative Building; agendas and the meeting schedule are on BoardDocs, and meetings stream live on the district’s Vimeo channel.
What this means for you
- Look up your zoned school by address before you sign a lease or buy.
- Register online early in summer; you have 30 school days to turn in the physical and shots.
- School grades changed a lot from 2025 to 2026 across the county, so check the latest.
Related: moving to Panama City, high school scoreboard and voting in Bay County.
Which schools each part of the city is zoned for: Panama City neighborhoods.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Panama City in?
Bay District Schools, which runs public schools across Bay County from its Nelson Administrative Building at 1311 Balboa Ave. in Panama City. The main number is 850-767-4100.
When is the last day of school for Bay District Schools in 2027?
Wednesday, May 26, 2027, an early-release day for all students, according to the district’s 2026-27 student calendar.
When is fall break for Bay District Schools?
Fall break is Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, followed by the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, Oct. 12. The district also lists Oct. 9 as a storm day if needed.
How do I find my school zone in Panama City?
Use the district’s School Zone and Bus Route search or Bay County’s school attendance zone map. The School Choice and Zoning office answers questions at 850-767-4328.
What grade did Bay High School get?
Bay High School earned a C in Florida’s 2026 school grades, down from a B in 2025. Rutherford High earned a C both years, and Mosley High earned an A both years.
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