Schools in Cape Coral, FL

The city of Cape Coral, Florida, is home to 26 public and charter schools within the Lee County school district, serving elementary through high school students in a community where the district ranks in the 20th percentile statewide.

The standout performers are the Oasis Charter Schools, which form a clear system of excellence. Oasis Charter High School leads with a perfect 100% graduation rate and ranks in the 82nd percentile, while Oasis Charter Middle School and Oasis Charter Elementary School-South both rank in the 85th and 86th percentiles respectively. In contrast, North Nicholas High School faces severe challenges with a 90% chronic absenteeism rate, a 52.6% graduation rate, and a student-teacher ratio of 50.4:1. Heritage Charter Academy of Cape Coral also struggles, with 93.16% of students on free/reduced lunch and a ranking in the 7th percentile. Notably, Mid Cape Global Academy shows remarkable improvement, jumping from the 9th to the 33rd percentile in just two years.

Citywide, chronic absenteeism averages 33.5%, higher than the state average, and is a systemic issue even affecting schools with decent test scores like Cape Coral High School (39.5%) and Mariner High School (48.4%). While the average high school graduation rate is 88.8%, several schools like Ida S. Baker High School and Island Coast High School have rates above 94% yet show low proficiency in core subjects, suggesting students may graduate without mastering fundamental skills. Spending does not correlate with success, as Hector A. Cafferata Junior Elementary School spends the most per student ($20,406) but ranks in the 31st percentile, while Oasis schools spend less and achieve top results.