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The Sanibel School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

171^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

The Sanibel School is a public elementary and middle school located in Sanibel, Florida, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 226 students. This school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with exceptional academic performance that sets it apart from the surrounding Lee County School District.

The Sanibel School's students significantly outperform the district and state averages on a wide range of standardized tests, including FAST (English Language Arts and Math), Statewide Science, and End-of-Course (EOC) exams. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school had a 96% proficiency rate in EOC Algebra 1, compared to 49% for the district and 60% for the state. This exceptional academic performance has earned the school a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is one of the top-performing schools in Florida. However, the school has also experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, which is an area of concern that the school may need to address.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Skyline Elementary School and Harlem Heights Community Charter School, The Sanibel School's performance stands out significantly. While some of the other schools in the area also demonstrate strong academic performance, The Sanibel School consistently outperforms them across a range of metrics, including test scores, school rankings, and chronic absenteeism rates. The higher per-student spending at The Sanibel School, ranging from $13,970 to $41,330 in recent years, may contribute to its academic success, as it allows the school to invest in resources, programs, and support services that benefit students.

225

Students ?

10.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,646

Per pupil spending ?

14.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3840 Sanibel Captiva Rd
Sanibel, FL 33957

(239) 472-1617

District: Lee

Students who attend The Sanibel School usually attend:

High:	Cypress Lake High School
	Dunbar High School
	Estero High School
	Fort Myers High School
	More...
	South Fort Myers High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.7%

Hispanic:

14.2%

Two or more races:

1.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare The Sanibel School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 98th percentile in 2014 → 92nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (88% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Florida elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Lee

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school88%

District avg50%

Florida avg58%

Elementary school

171^st of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 1% (2016) to top 8% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

68^th of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 6%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 2% (2016) to top 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 59Elementary Schools in the Lee

59^th of 67Lee among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	89.8	171 of 2258	92.4%	★★★★★
2024	91.2	136 of 2256	94.0%	★★★★★
2023	94.5	52 of 2240	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.6	57 of 2219	97.4%	★★★★★
2021	95.4	48 of 2247	97.9%	★★★★★
2019	94.1	48 of 2182	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	92.9	79 of 2118	96.3%	★★★★★
2017	92.6	85 of 2112	96.0%	★★★★★
2016	96.7	23 of 2087	98.9%	★★★★★
2014	95.4	31 of 2064	98.5%	★★★★★
2013	96.4	17 of 2029	99.2%	★★★★★
2012	93.6	66 of 1984	96.7%	★★★★★
2011	95.3	13 of 1985	99.3%	★★★★★
2010	94.4	26 of 1919	98.6%	★★★★★
2009	93.8	30 of 1847	98.4%	★★★★★
2008	96.3	10 of 1789	99.4%	★★★★★
2007	92.9	49 of 1786	97.3%	★★★★★
2006	94.7	44 of 1688	97.4%	★★★★★
2005	95.9	10 of 202	95.0%	★★★★★
2004	97.8	4 of 199	98.0%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	90.9	68 of 1205	94.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.4	12 of 1196	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	95.2	32 of 1177	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	94.3	36 of 1148	96.9%	★★★★★
2021	94.9	32 of 1136	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	96.2	20 of 1099	98.2%	★★★★★
2018	90.7	80 of 1035	92.3%	★★★★★
2017	95.8	21 of 1031	98.0%	★★★★★
2016	96.7	17 of 997	98.3%	★★★★★
2014	96.5	14 of 999	98.6%	★★★★★
2013	96.5	14 of 956	98.5%	★★★★★
2012	92.6	43 of 897	95.2%	★★★★★
2011	95.2	12 of 891	98.7%	★★★★★
2010	95.0	9 of 839	98.9%	★★★★★
2009	94.7	12 of 780	98.5%	★★★★★
2008	97.0	5 of 740	99.3%	★★★★★
2007	98.0	5 of 736	99.3%	★★★★★
2006	97.5	5 of 675	99.3%	★★★★★
2005	96.4	9 of 602	98.5%	★★★★★
2004	97.6	3 of 593	99.5%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Geometry100%+45 vs state

Algebra 196%+36 vs state

Civics96%+25 vs state

Science88%+36 vs state

English Language Arts86%+29 vs state

Math86%+27 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, April 16, 2017

My son is a student there. It is a small school with a lot of parental involvement. To get to the school involves crossing a toll bridge ($6) . There are no city buses that go over to the island, which keeps it exclusive. Parents tend to be professionals or in the service industry. Kids are very nice. Close Quote

Schools Near The Sanibel School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)						FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
The Sanibel School	Public	PK, KG-8	3840 Sanibel Captiva Rd	Sanibel	33957	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 472-1617	225	21	10.7	14.7%	186 (82.7%)	2 (0.9%)	32 (14.2%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	89.8	171^st of 2258 public elementary schools	92.4%		91.2	136^th of 2256 public elementary schools	94.0%	35	76.0	77.0	96.0	78.0	88.0	100.0	95.0	80.0	93.0	78.0	80.0	100.0	87.0	89.0	96.0	100.0	96.0	$25,646	$1,207	$24,438
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2751 Oak St	Fort Myers Beach	33931	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 463-6356	62	5	11.6	53.2%	46 (74.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (25.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	92.0						83.0											$28,324	$873	$27,451
Oasis Charter Elementary School-South	Public, Charter	K-5	3415 Oasis Blvd	Cape Coral	33914	Lee County	Lee	Yes	No	No	No	(239) 542-1577	875	51	17.1	27.5%	546 (62.4%)	20 (2.3%)	263 (30.1%)	20 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (2.9%)	82.2	361^st of 2258 public elementary schools	84.0%		90.6	156^th of 2256 public elementary schools	93.1%	205	73.0	61.0	71.0				72.0	79.0	86.0				76.0					$9,555	$00	$9,555
Pine Island Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5360 Ridgewood Dr	Bokeelia	33922	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 283-0505	227	14	16.6	47.6%	132 (58.1%)	2 (0.9%)	87 (38.3%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)	64.4	770^th of 2258 public elementary schools	65.9%		49	1116^th of 2256 public elementary schools	50.5%	346	68.0	43.0	67.0				86.0	50.0	79.0				69.0					$16,345	$898	$15,447
Gulf Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3400 SW 17th Pl	Cape Coral	33914	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 549-2726	1,193	69	17.2	37.1%	642 (53.8%)	29 (2.4%)	434 (36.4%)	19 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (5.7%)	74.2	527^th of 2258 public elementary schools	76.7%		67.8	687^th of 2256 public elementary schools	69.5%	160	69.0	69.0	63.0				78.0	72.0	69.0				58.0					$10,969	$741	$10,228
Harlem Heights Community Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	15570 Hagie Dr	Fort Myers	33908	Lee County	Lee	Yes	No	No	Yes	(239) 482-7706	209	12	17.1	66.5%	11 (5.3%)	32 (15.3%)	159 (76.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.3%)	5.9	2210^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.1%		7.9	2193^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	2.8%	17	24.0	29.0	26.0				43.0	26.0	22.0				9.0					$12,458	$1,223	$11,235
Pelican Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3525 SW 3rd Ave	Cape Coral	33914	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 549-4966	963	51	18.8	49.7%	421 (43.7%)	45 (4.7%)	431 (44.8%)	11 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (5.7%)	45.7	1212^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.3%		54	995^th of 2256 public elementary schools	55.9%	217	56.0	47.0	48.0				64.0	65.0	53.0				49.0					$10,736	$882	$9,855
Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	15200 Alexandria Ct	Fort Myers	33908	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 481-1761	1,057	55	19.2	34.6%	504 (47.7%)	103 (9.7%)	353 (33.4%)	38 (3.6%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (5.1%)	57.3	940^th of 2258 public elementary schools	58.4%		67.4	691^st of 2256 public elementary schools	69.4%	249	54.0	60.0	57.0				69.0	62.0	55.0				61.0					$10,563	$731	$9,832
Cape Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4519 Vincennes Blvd	Cape Coral	33904	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 542-3551	798	40	19.9	45.1%	387 (48.5%)	35 (4.4%)	335 (42.0%)	8 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	31 (3.9%)	67.7	698^th of 2258 public elementary schools	69.1%		71.8	600^th of 2256 public elementary schools	73.4%	98	60.0	63.0	67.0				66.0	66.0	66.0				67.0					$12,402	$691	$11,711
Trafalgar Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1850 SW 20th Ave	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 283-3043	910	51	17.9	39.8%	389 (42.7%)	40 (4.4%)	423 (46.5%)	20 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.1%)	59.7	888^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.7%		69.1	655^th of 2256 public elementary schools	71.0%	233	57.0	57.0	60.0				62.0	62.0	62.0				67.0					$11,586	$879	$10,707

Frequently Asked Questions about The Sanibel School

What schools do graduates of The Sanibel School attend?

Students who attend The Sanibel School usually go on to attend:

High : Cypress Lake High School
High : Dunbar High School
High : Estero High School
High : Fort Myers High School
High : South Fort Myers High School

What district is The Sanibel School in?

Lee

How many students attend The Sanibel School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 225 students attended The Sanibel School.

Is The Sanibel School a good school?

Yes. The Sanibel School ranks in the top 7.6% of Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of The Sanibel School?

Students at The Sanibel School are 83% White, 14% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Rate The Sanibel School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.