Best Public Schools in Fort Myers, FL

The city of Fort Myers, Florida is home to 49 schools serving students from elementary through high school, all part of the Lee County School District. While the district is ranked 50 out of 68 in the state, several standout schools shine, including Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School, which is ranked 15th out of 807 high schools in Florida and has a 5-star rating.

In contrast, the data reveals significant disparities in performance and resources across the schools in Fort Myers. High-performing schools like Three Oaks Middle School, which has strong test scores, stand in stark contrast to low-performing schools like Island Park High School, which struggles with low graduation rates and high chronic absenteeism. There also appears to be a correlation between a school's performance and the socioeconomic status of its student population, with schools serving higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch generally performing worse.

The data also highlights the challenges faced by alternative and exceptional schools in the area, such as Royal Palm Exceptional School Center, which have low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and low graduation rates. Additionally, the early childhood learning center in the data set, Early Childhood Learning Services, has high chronic absenteeism and free/reduced lunch rates, underscoring the need for investment and support in early childhood education.