Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Cape Coral

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C+

Lee County School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 6 towns

Serves Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach.

Cape Coral’s School Grade C+ better than 36% of Florida school districts

Students
102,506
Schools
115
Spent per student
$12,384
FL $13,006
Students per teacher
20:1
Free or reduced lunch
48%
Debt
$439.2M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Lee County School District

  • Its letter, C+: results better than 36% of Florida districts
  • 20 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 9.7% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $439.2M, about $4,285 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C+: better than 36% of the 76 Florida school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math below the state, 2021–22
C+
GraduationFour-year graduation below the state, class of 2023
C
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C+Cape Coral 236,264C+Fort Myers 101,581C+Bonita Springs 57,634C+Estero 38,365C+Sanibel 6,303C+Fort Myers Beach 5,287

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Cape Coral. Grade by grade →

PK–59 elementary schoolsThis district
6–86 middle schoolsThis district
9–124 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. FL

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency48%
State average 52.2% · 54,213 students tested
Reading / language arts49%
State average 52.1% · 57,084 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85%
State average 88% · 7,144 in the class

95% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$12,384 per student · 5% below FL
Spending
Classroom instruction 56%Support & administration 39%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 63%State 25%Federal 12%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
93,455’20
95,708’21
97,714’22
100,046’23
102,506’24

Up 9.7% since 2020–21.

Students
Hispanic 51%White 30%Black 14%Two or more races 3%Asian 2%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

115 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools.

Gateway Charter School
Other · Grades PK–12 · Fort Myers
B−
3,192 students27:1
Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Lehigh Acres
C+
1,937 students19:1
Sunshine Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
C+
1,456 students20:1
North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · North Fort Myers
B
1,353 students19:1
Mirror Lakes Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
B−
1,237 students17:1
Lehigh Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
C+
1,207 students19:1
The Alva School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Alva
B
1,203 students19:1
Gulf Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
A−
1,193 students17:1
Tortuga Preserve Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
C+
1,172 students24:1
Mid Cape Global Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Cape Coral
B
1,145 students22:1
Skyline Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
B
1,141 students19:1
Harns Marsh Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
C+
1,103 students19:1
Amanecer Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
1,072 students21:1
Diplomat Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
A−
1,066 students17:1
Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
A
1,057 students19:1
Treeline Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B
1,057 students17:1
Pinewoods Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Estero
A
1,025 students19:1
Caloosa Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
A−
968 students17:1
Pelican Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
B+
963 students19:1
G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lehigh Acres
C
960 students24:1
Patriot Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
B
954 students19:1
Three Oaks Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
A
941 students18:1
Allen Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B−
926 students18:1
River Hall Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Alva
C+
913 students20:1
Trafalgar Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
A−
910 students18:1
Gateway Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B
839 students20:1
Hancock Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · North Fort Myers
B−
814 students19:1
Tropic Isles Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · North Fort Myers
C+
804 students18:1
Cape Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
A−
798 students20:1
Lee County Virtual Franchise
Other · Grades PK–12 · Fort Myers
B+
796 students23:1
Orange River Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
C
796 students19:1
Villas Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B−
784 students14:1
Innovation Preparatory Academy of South FT. Myers
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Fort Myers
C
770 students20:1
Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B−
736 students17:1
James Stephens Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
D
730 students20:1
Manatee Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
C+
728 students17:1
Rayma C. Page Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Ft Myers
A
697 students17:1
Tanglewood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
A−
687 students17:1
Bayshore School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · North Ft Myers
B
685 students21:1
Orangewood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B−
679 students19:1
Spring Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bonita Springs
B+
664 students18:1
Colonial Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
C
661 students15:1
San Carlos Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B−
642 students16:1
Dr. Carrie D Robinson Littleton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · North Fort Myers
B
640 students19:1
Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cape Coral
B−
606 students18:1
Edgewood Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
C
598 students14:1
J. Colin English Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · North Fort Myers
B−
530 students18:1
Tice Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
C
516 students17:1
Franklin Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
D
505 students21:1
Bonita Springs Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bonita Springs
B
502 students17:1
Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers
B+
440 students17:1
Pine Island Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bokeelia
B+
227 students17:1
The Sanibel School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Sanibel
A+
225 students11:1
Early Childhood Learning Services
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Fort Myers
187 students
Royal Palm Exceptional School Center
Other · Grades PK–12 · Fort Myers
D−
99 students4:1
County Wide Exceptional Child Programs
Other · Grades PK–12 · Fort Myers
94 students
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fort Myers Beach
A+
62 students12:1
Buckingham Exceptional Student Center
Other · Grades PK–12 · Fort Myers
D−
60 students5:1
Bonita Springs Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Bonita Springs
B
1,287 students19:1
Oasis Charter Elementary School-South
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Cape Coral
A
875 students17:1
Oasis Elementary Charter School-North
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Cape Coral
A
813 students16:1
Oak Creek Charter School of Bonita Springs
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Bonita Springs
C+
685 students23:1
Athenian Academy Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Fort Myers
B
437 students24:1
Heritage Charter Academy of Cape Coral
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Cape Coral
C−
234 students
Harlem Heights Community Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Fort Myers
D
209 students17:1
The Island School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Boca Grande
A
64 students5:1
Southwest Florida Juvenile Detention Center
High · Grades 5–12 · Fort Myers
41 students12:1
Lehigh Acres Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lehigh Acres
C
1,509 students22:1
Oak Hammock Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
C+
1,242 students20:1
Diplomat Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
B
1,097 students22:1
Three Oaks Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
A−
1,091 students23:1
Lexington Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
B
1,054 students20:1
Caloosa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
B−
1,018 students21:1
Varsity Lakes Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lehigh Acres
C
1,009 students22:1
Lemuel Teal Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lehigh Acres
1,008 students19:1
Challenger Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
B+
999 students19:1
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
B
999 students18:1
Trafalgar Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
A−
962 students19:1
Harns Marsh Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lehigh Acres
C−
905 students18:1
Gulf Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
A−
901 students20:1
Oasis Charter Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
A
846 students19:1
Cypress Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
A−
768 students19:1
Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bonita Springs
B
706 students17:1
Mariner Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cape Coral
B−
691 students21:1
Fort Myers Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Myers
D
687 students21:1
Success Academy
High · Grades 6–12 · Fort Myers
84 students5:1
Pace School for Girls
High · Grades 6–12 · Ft Myers
D−
62 students8:1
Young Parent Education Program
High · Grades 6–12 · Fort Myers
D−
48 students5:1
SW FL Addiction Services-the Vince Smith Center
High · Grades 6–12 · Ft Myers
6 students6:1
North Nicholas High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Cape Coral
D−
353 students
Island Park High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Fort Myers
D
296 students
Coronado High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Ft Myers
D−
294 students
Lee County Jail
High · Grades 7–12 · Fort Myers
4 students
Lee County Acceleration Academies
High · Grades 8–12 · Fort Myers
230 students
Lehigh Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Lehigh Acres
C
2,550 students23:1
Gateway High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
C+
2,343 students25:1
Ida S. Baker High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cape Coral
B−
2,191 students23:1
East Lee County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Lehigh Acres
D
2,129 students24:1
Cape Coral High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cape Coral
B
2,008 students23:1
North Fort Myers High School
High · Grades 9–12 · North Fort Myers
A−
1,938 students23:1
Riverdale High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
C
1,916 students25:1
Mariner High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cape Coral
C
1,865 students24:1
Fort Myers High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
B
1,835 students23:1
Dunbar High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
C−
1,734 students22:1
South Fort Myers High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
D
1,693 students23:1
Estero High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Estero
B−
1,571 students25:1
Bonita Springs High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bonita Springs
C+
1,490 students25:1
Island Coast High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cape Coral
C−
1,477 students24:1
Cypress Lake High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
B−
1,429 students22:1
Oasis Charter High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cape Coral
A−
896 students
Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ft Myers
A+
411 students
Donna J. Beasley Technical Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Lehigh Acres
D−
294 students
Palm Acres Charter High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Lehigh Acres
D
274 students
City of Palms Charter High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Myers
104 students26:1
Northern Palms Charter High School
High · Grades 9–12 · North Fort Myers
D
92 students23:1

Left off: 4 schools reporting no students for 2024–25.

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Florida.