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Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School

Q: Is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School ranks 849 th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

849^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 30% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Fort Myers, FL, serves 999 students in grades 6-8 within the Lee County School District, and it is a school of striking contrasts that parents should understand. The most defining feature is its exceptional advanced coursework program: in 2025-2026, 98% of students were proficient in Geometry and 88% in Civics, both the highest rates among all nearby schools, including top performers like Cypress Lake Middle School (81% Civics) and Three Oaks Middle School (78% Civics). Algebra 1 proficiency is also strong at 84%, ranking 4th in the comparison group. However, this success does not extend to the general student body, creating what feels like "two schools" under one roof.

The most critical weakness is in standard grade-level math, particularly 7th grade, where proficiency plummeted to just 24% in 2025-2026—far below the state average of 53% and the 3rd lowest among 10 nearby schools. This represents a 20-percentage-point drop from 6th grade math (44% proficient), a "cliff" that is more severe than at peer schools. While the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 29.4% is a relative bright spot—better than Fort Myers Middle School (42.6%) and Harns Marsh Middle School (40.1%)—the gap between advanced and standard tracks remains the school's biggest challenge.

Interestingly, the school's per-student spending ($10,627) and low student-teacher ratio (18:1) are in the middle of the pack, suggesting that funding and class size alone are not the issue. Compared to its closest neighbor, Fort Myers Middle School (10th percentile), Dunbar significantly outperforms in every subject, indicating it serves a more stable population. For parents, the key takeaway is that Dunbar offers a world-class advanced program, especially in math and civics, but families of on-grade-level students should investigate how the school plans to bridge the achievement gap, particularly in 7th grade math.

999

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,627

Per pupil spending ?

46.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4750 Winkler Avenue Ext
Fort Myers, FL 33966

(239) 334-1357

District: Lee

Students who attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School usually attend:

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

Feeder schools for Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School:

Elementary:	Allen Park Elementary School
	Colonial Elementary School
	Edison Park Creative And Expressive Arts School
	Fort Myers Beach Elementary School
	More...
	Franklin Park Elementary School
	Orangewood Elementary School
	Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School
	Tanglewood Elementary School
	Villas Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

40.3%

African American:

31.0%

White:

20.7%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 41st percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg54%

Florida avg61%

849^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 41% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 18Middle Schools in the Lee

56^th of 70Lee 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	34.7	849 of 1216	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.4	756 of 1205	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.1	863 of 1196	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.2	630 of 1177	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.0	638 of 1148	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.6	505 of 1136	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.8	594 of 1099	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.6	523 of 1035	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	46.1	547 of 1031	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	40.5	587 of 997	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	47.0	532 of 999	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	55.9	417 of 956	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.3	413 of 897	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	59.3	389 of 891	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.8	374 of 839	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	59.9	336 of 780	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.1	305 of 740	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.6	248 of 736	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	75.9	150 of 675	77.8%	★★★★☆
2005	69.7	170 of 602	71.8%	★★★★☆
2004	73.9	140 of 593	76.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry98%+42 vs state

Civics88%+11 vs state

Algebra 184%+21 vs state

English Language Arts50%-11 vs state

Science48%-4 vs state

Math47%-11 vs state

5.0

6 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★6

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Principal and administrators are fully engaged, the Counselors are involved and teachers care! The theater program is the best and we like to call this school OUR BEST KEPT SECRET. Close Quote

by a citizen
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

As a parent who is raising two young boys in a very global and diverse society it is important for my kids to have an educational experience at a school that promotes diversity and develops a culture that emphasizes respect, tolerance, and acceptance. Dunbar Middle meets all of those expectations and much more. They have some of the most dedicated and caring teachers that I have ever been around (and I am a teacher as well). They pride themselves on doing what is best for their students and involving parents and the community in their students education. The building is clean, bright and well taken care of. Academically, the school is technology driven, and has the resources to meet your child's needs despite whatever level they may be at. They have programs to support struggling students and have one of the best gifted programs in the county. I definitely recommend Dunbar Middle, as a parent and a teacher!!!! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle is comprised of some of the hardest working, engaging, caring and passionate educators in Lee County. They provide a safe, supportive and respectful environment for their students and demonstrate on a daily basis, their commitment to providing an educational experience that is relevant, rigorous and dynamic for their students. I highly recommend sending your students to this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)			FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School	Public	6-8	4750 Winkler Avenue Ext	Fort Myers	33966	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 334-1357	999	55	18.0	46.2%	207 (20.7%)	310 (31.0%)	403 (40.3%)	47 (4.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.1%)	34.7	849^th of 1216 public middle schools	30.2%		39.4	756^th of 1205 public middle schools	37.3%	93	46.0	57.0	47.0	44.0	24.0	62.0	48.0	84.0	98.0		88.0	$10,627	$739	$9,889
Fort Myers Middle School	Public	6-8	3050 Central Ave	Fort Myers	33901	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 936-1759	687	33	20.8	62.9%	58 (8.4%)	328 (47.7%)	268 (39.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (4.1%)	15	1089^th of 1216 public middle schools	10.4%		12.6	1090^th of 1205 public middle schools	9.5%	1	30.0	34.0	34.0	25.0	29.0	50.0	27.0	89.0			56.0	$12,354	$1,692	$10,662
Oak Hammock Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	5321 Tice St	Fort Myers	33905	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(239) 693-0469	1,242	63	19.8	52.7%	167 (13.4%)	131 (10.5%)	907 (73.0%)	10 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.1%)	23.6	995^th of 1216 public middle schools	18.2%		24.6	946^th of 1205 public middle schools	21.5%	49	35.0	44.0	51.0	41.0	19.0	51.0	37.0	81.0		89.0	51.0	$11,452	$1,951	$9,502
Varsity Lakes Middle School	Public	6-8	801 Gunnery Rd N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 694-3464	1,009	46	21.9	53.5%	86 (8.5%)	254 (25.2%)	629 (62.3%)	14 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (2.3%)	20.3	1033^rd of 1216 public middle schools	15.0%		25.5	934^th of 1205 public middle schools	22.5%	99	35.0	45.0	46.0	36.0	10.0	42.0	39.0	79.0			60.0	$9,873	$1,154	$8,719
Cypress Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	8901 Cypress Lake Dr	Fort Myers	33919	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	No	(239) 481-1533	768	40	19.0	34.1%	382 (49.7%)	49 (6.4%)	295 (38.4%)	17 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.1%)	66.5	370^th of 1216 public middle schools	69.6%		66.9	357^th of 1205 public middle schools	70.4%	13	65.0	69.0	73.0	72.0	13.0	82.0	59.0	96.0	100.0		81.0	$11,350	$705	$10,645
Harns Marsh Middle School	Public	6-8	1820 Unice Ave N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 690-2025	905	50	18.1	58.7%	86 (9.5%)	179 (19.8%)	598 (66.1%)	12 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (3.2%)	35	846^th of 1216 public middle schools	30.4%		35.3	810^th of 1205 public middle schools	32.8%	36	45.0	48.0	51.0	43.0	18.0	65.0	53.0	90.0	95.0		69.0	$12,277	$1,824	$10,453
Caloosa Middle School	Public	6-8	610 Del Prado Blvd S	Cape Coral	33990	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 574-3232	1,018	49	20.7	57.7%	344 (33.8%)	108 (10.6%)	495 (48.6%)	16 (1.6%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	51 (5.0%)	33	873^rd of 1216 public middle schools	28.2%		30.6	878^th of 1205 public middle schools	27.1%	5	53.0	51.0	51.0	55.0	24.0	53.0	36.0	88.0			65.0	$10,764	$1,176	$9,589
Three Oaks Middle School	Public	6-8	18500 3 Oaks Pkwy	Fort Myers	33967	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 267-5757	1,091	48	22.9	25.9%	629 (57.7%)	37 (3.4%)	358 (32.8%)	29 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	36 (3.3%)	68.2	350^th of 1216 public middle schools	71.2%		72.9	294^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.6%	56	62.0	66.0	68.0	73.0	34.0	83.0	71.0	91.0	97.0		78.0	$9,433	$588	$8,844
Lexington Middle School	Public	6-8	16351 Summerlin Rd	Fort Myers	33908	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 454-6130	1,054	52	20.1	38.3%	348 (33.0%)	112 (10.6%)	523 (49.6%)	32 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (3.6%)	37.3	817^th of 1216 public middle schools	32.8%		36.7	795^th of 1205 public middle schools	34.0%	22	48.0	55.0	57.0	46.0	41.0	57.0	47.0	83.0	95.0		81.0	$9,963	$573	$9,391
Diplomat Middle School	Public	6-8	1039 NE 16th Ter	Cape Coral	33909	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 574-5257	1,097	50	21.8	49.0%	365 (33.3%)	88 (8.0%)	604 (55.1%)	13 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	24 (2.2%)	43.4	722^nd of 1216 public middle schools	40.6%		48.3	616^th of 1205 public middle schools	48.9%	106	53.0	61.0	61.0	45.0	41.0	59.0	49.0	87.0			76.0	$10,107	$618	$9,491

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?

Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School are 40% Hispanic, 31% African American, 21% White, 5% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School attend?

Students who attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School usually go on to attend Cypress Lake High School

What district is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in?

Lee

How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 999 students attended Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School.

Is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School ranks 849^th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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.