Several Santa Rosa County schools carry the designation of Purple Star School of Distinction. Purple Star designation recognizes schools that provide extra support for children of military families.

There are certain requirements to receiving this designation. Those requirements include publicizing support for military students and families, highlighting annual military recognition events, providing opportunities for active-duty military parents to volunteer at the school, having a military point of contact, transition program, professional development, and controlled open enrollment.

In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law the Purple Star Campuses legislation, recognizing K-12 schools that provide identified support for the military child's transition and relocation within Florida. This program aims to help students as they relocate to new schools due to a parents change in duty station.

Santa Rosa County is working with the Florida Department of Education to create a teacher leadership program at Purple Star schools help veterans earn their teaching certification and help teachers learn how to best serve military families. This program will allow Purple Star schools to fill teaching positions and help qualified teachers receive their certification more quickly.

FLDOE Senior Chancellor, Jacob Oliva, shared that, "The Department recognizes and applauds the commitment your district and schools have taken to ensure military-connected families are supported in Florida. The schools will maintain their designation as a Purple Star School of Distinction for three (3) school years. After three years, schools must reapply to maintain the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation."