New Apple Watch SE - can it access Wifi without being connected via Bluetooth to and iphone?

Thanks, Phil. I wonder if the lack of a 5Ghz connection can be (or will be) fixed through future software upgrades, or if it is a hardware limitation?

Also, the page you linked notes the watch cannot connect to a captive network (like a school). We were considering purchasing an SE for our daughter (13) as we are uncomfortable for her having an iPhone at that age, but the inability of the watch to connect directly to a captive network at her school might be a deal breaker.

Phil - it does not have to connect with the school wifi, but our school allows the kids to use their devices occasionally for in-class projects, and as we are in a mountain rural area, communication with our daughter is often necessary, and will be more as she gets into sports. I was also hoping we could go with the GPS only option because of the price point, but as you point out, that really isn't an option in the case with our daughter. Up here in Canada the GPS+Cellular Apple Watch SE starts at $429 Canadian. For that price, I could set her up with a discounted 6th-Gen Ipad (Wifi only) plus a case/keyboard and digital stylus, giving her a much more functional entry into the iOS world, albeit one we may have to monitor a bit more with its photo-video capability. Thank you again for your helpful comments!