Best Public Schools in Fort Myers, FL

The city of Fort Myers, Florida, is served by 49 schools within the Lee County school district, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Florida districts. These schools include 22 elementary, 6 middle, 16 high, and 5 alternative schools, presenting a stark contrast in performance that is closely tied to socioeconomic factors.

The standout performer is Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School, which ranks in the 97th percentile with a 99% graduation rate and the lowest poverty rate in the city. At the other extreme, Island Park High School and Coronado High School rank in the bottom 10% of Florida high schools, with graduation rates around 35% and chronic absenteeism exceeding 90%. Among elementary schools, Three Oaks Elementary School leads with an 89th percentile ranking and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the city at 12%, while Harlem Heights Community Charter School and Innovation Preparatory Academy Of South Ft. Myers rank in the bottom 7% of Florida elementary schools.

The city-wide average chronic absenteeism rate of 39.5% is a major concern, far exceeding the state average of 31.4%. Test scores also lag behind state averages, with 10th-grade ELA proficiency at 49.6% (state: 61%) and 3rd-grade math at 53.5% (state: 66%). A critical finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee success; the highest-spending traditional school, Villas Elementary School at $14,772 per student, has a 2-star rating, while the top-performing Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School spends just $7,941 per student. Additionally, middle school math is a universal weakness, with even high-performing Three Oaks Middle School showing only 34% proficiency in 7th-grade math.