Labelle High School

Labelle High School is a public high school in the rural community of Labelle, Florida, serving 1,422 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Hendry County School District. The school has a mixed performance profile, earning a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking in the 44th percentile statewide, which places it slightly below the state average overall. Its strongest academic areas are Biology 1 (67% proficient) and US History (60% proficient), where it significantly outperforms its district averages, and English Language Arts has shown remarkable improvement, with 9th and 10th grade proficiency rising from around 35% to 61% over the past three years. However, math performance is inconsistent, with Geometry proficiency jumping to 47% while Algebra 1 remains low at 32%, suggesting potential curriculum or instructional challenges.

The most pressing concern at Labelle High School is its chronic absenteeism rate of 42.4%, which is more than double the state average of 31.4% and far exceeds the Hendry district average of 20.1%. This issue has persisted for years, hovering between 38% and 48% since 2020. Despite this, the school maintains a graduation rate of 88.5%, though it still lags behind the state average of 92.2%. This disconnect between high absenteeism and a decent graduation rate may indicate strong credit recovery programs or alternative pathways to graduation. Compared to nearby schools, Labelle is a clear academic outperformer relative to struggling schools in Lee County, such as East Lee County High School (19th percentile) and Palm Acres Charter High School (10th percentile), but it is outperformed by Moore Haven Middle High School (53rd percentile) in Glades County.

Labelle High School spends $9,150 per student, which is below the state average and less than most nearby schools, including Moore Haven ($13,957), and it has a high student-to-teacher ratio of 25.3:1. The school serves a population with significant economic need, with over 51% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. While Labelle is a relative academic haven compared to the failing schools in Lee County, its persistent absenteeism and inconsistent math performance hold it back from achieving a higher state ranking. The school's success in improving ELA scores suggests that targeted interventions can work, and addressing the root causes of absenteeism could be the key to unlocking its full potential.