The Collegiate High School (CHS) at Northwest Florida State College proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding in fall of 2000, CHS has been a leader in innovative education, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Florida.
For a quarter-century, CHS has provided students with unique opportunities to earn both a high school diploma and college credits simultaneously, often graduating with a two-year college degree at no cost for tuition or textbooks. With instruction from highly qualified faculty and access to state-of-the-art facilities at Northwest Florida State College, CHS students benefit from a personalized, academically rigorous environment designed to prepare them for college and career success in the workforce. At the heart of this work is CHS’s deeply collaborative, team-based approach, where faculty work closely together to ensure every student thrives.
"Celebrating 25 years of CHS is truly something special," said Interim Principal Lori Shaak. "I’m impressed with the innovation, hard work, and foresight that brought us to where we are today. As we look ahead, I’m excited for the continued growth, excellence, and impact we’ll make in the years to come."
CHS offers a variety of pathways, including Associate in Arts and Associate in Science programs, allowing students to customize their studies based on academic goals and career interests. From hands-on technical education to honors programs and diverse extracurricular activities, CHS fosters a dynamic learning environment that prioritizes meaningful opportunities for growth.
As the school celebrates this milestone, the faculty, staff, students, and alumni reflect on 25 years of academic excellence, innovation, and dedication to student success. Among them is an individual who has been part of the school since its founding and has witnessed its extraordinary growth from the very beginning.
“Being the first high school on a community college campus in Florida has been a wonderful place to work since the beginning,” said Sandy Caudill, Records Report Specialist for the Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College. “We have been a model for other community colleges adding high school programs. Students at Collegiate earn their AA degree at the same time as their high school diploma while studying on a college campus.
“The program, designed for highly motivated students, pushes them academically and prepares them for the university level,” continued Caudill. “Our growth—from 125 students (10th–12th grade) in the first year to 480 students (9th–12th grade) in 2025–2026—attests to the success of the Collegiate High School. One of the things that excites me most is having students whose parents also graduated from here. I call them my ‘grand students.’”
As faculty and staff of CHS reflect on this achievement, Northwest Florida State College leadership recognizes the profound impact CHS has made on the region. NWFSC President Mel Ponder noted that the 25th anniversary not only honors the school’s legacy of academic excellence but also highlights the remarkable accomplishments of its students and alumni—including NWFSC Board of Trustees Member Lyndsi Stevens, a proud 2005 graduate of Collegiate High School.
“Reaching the 25-year mark is an extraordinary accomplishment,” said President Ponder. “I couldn’t be prouder of the legacy CHS has built and the thousands of students whose lives have been transformed there. Seeing alumni like Board Member Lyndsi Stevens come full circle and now help guide the future of our institution is a powerful reminder of the impact CHS has had on our community.”
Moving forward, CHS remains committed to expanding opportunities, nurturing talent, and empowering the next generation of learners. With a legacy built on innovation, collaboration, and student achievement, Collegiate High School looks toward the future with optimism and purpose—continuing its mission to shape bright minds, strengthen the community, and inspire excellence for decades to come.
To learn more about all that CHS has to offer, please visit chs.nwfsc.edu.
