Best High Schools in North Fort Myers, FL

North Fort Myers, Florida, is home to two high schools—North Fort Myers High School and Northern Palms Charter High School—serving grades 9 through 12 within the Lee school district, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Florida districts. These two schools present a stark contrast in nearly every measurable category, from size and academic performance to graduation rates and student engagement.

North Fort Myers High School is the clear standout, a large traditional public school with 1,938 students that consistently outperforms both district and state averages. It boasts a near-perfect 98.9% graduation rate, a 4-star rating, and strong proficiency in Biology 1 (87%) and US History (79%). However, it shows a notable weakness in Algebra 1, where only 24% of students are proficient. In contrast, Northern Palms Charter High School is a very small charter school with just 92 students that faces severe challenges. It ranks in the bottom 7% of Florida high schools, has a critically low 26.5% graduation rate, and suffers from a staggering 95.7% chronic absenteeism rate—meaning nearly every student is missing significant school time. Academic proficiency is in the single digits for Geometry (7%) and US History (25%).

A key takeaway is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: Northern Palms Charter High School spends $14,390 per student—45% more than North Fort Myers High School's $9,935—yet achieves drastically worse outcomes. This suggests that deeper issues like school culture and student support, rather than funding alone, drive success. The data also reveals a powerful link between attendance and graduation, with Northern Palms' near-total absenteeism directly correlating with its low graduation rate. For parents, this analysis shows that school choice within the same city does not guarantee equal opportunity, and that North Fort Myers High School is the far stronger option for academic achievement and student engagement.