Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Pelican Elementary School

Q: Is Pelican Elementary School a good school?

Pelican Elementary School ranks 1321 st of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1321^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Pelican Elementary School in Cape Coral, FL, is a mid-sized school serving 963 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Lee school district, where about half of the students (49.7%) qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school has experienced a notable decline in recent years, dropping from a strong 4-star rating (70th percentile) in the 2022-2023 school year to a 2-star rating (41st percentile) for the 2025-2026 school year, a trend that sets it apart from many nearby schools that have remained stable or improved.

One of the most interesting findings is that Pelican Elementary performs well in early grades but struggles to maintain that success in upper grades. For example, in 3rd grade, math proficiency (65%) and ELA proficiency (63%) are above district averages, but by 5th grade, math proficiency (52%) falls below the district average, and science proficiency (53%) also lags. This "fade-out" effect is more pronounced here than at higher-performing peers like Gulf Elementary School or Oasis Charter Elementary School-South, which is just 2.6 miles away and boasts a 5-star rating with proficiency rates 20-30 points higher in every subject. Additionally, Pelican has a high student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1 and spends only $10,736 per student, the second-lowest among its immediate peers, compared to Cape Elementary School ($12,402) and Caloosa Elementary School ($12,890).

Despite its academic challenges, Pelican Elementary has a chronic absenteeism rate of 26.6%, which is actually better than the district average (34.6%) and state average (31.4%), suggesting that the decline is not primarily due to attendance issues. The school's science performance, once a bright spot with 67% proficiency in 2022-2023, has dropped to 53% in 2025-2026, indicating a potential curriculum or instructional problem. Pelican is caught in a competitive middle ground, outperformed by high-performing schools like Trafalgar Elementary School and Patriot Elementary School, while facing pressure from improving schools like Skyline Elementary School. Without intervention, Pelican risks falling further behind its neighbors.

963

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,736

Per pupil spending ?

49.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3525 SW 3rd Ave
Cape Coral, FL 33914

(239) 549-4966

District: Lee

Students who attend Pelican Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Caloosa Middle School
	Challenger Middle School
	Diplomat Middle School
	Gulf Middle School
	More...
	Mariner Middle School
	Trafalgar Middle School
High:	Cape Coral High School
	Ida S. Baker High School
	Island Coast High School
	Mariner High School
	More...
	North Fort Myers High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

44.8%

White:

43.7%

Two or more races:

5.7%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Pelican Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg57%

Florida avg62%

1,321^st of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 22 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 59Elementary 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	42.9	1321 of 2240	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.7	1212 of 2258	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.0	995 of 2256	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.7	668 of 2240	70.2%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	735 of 2219	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.9	774 of 2247	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.2	907 of 2182	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.5	870 of 2118	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.5	711 of 2112	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.3	776 of 2087	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	69.1	603 of 2064	70.8%	★★★★☆
2013	67.7	624 of 2029	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.8	742 of 1984	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.3	647 of 1985	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	66.7	662 of 1919	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	71.4	502 of 1847	72.8%	★★★★☆
2008	71.1	502 of 1789	71.9%	★★★★☆
2007	70.2	529 of 1786	70.4%	★★★★☆
2006	67.4	558 of 1688	66.9%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math59%-5 vs state

English Language Arts57%-4 vs state

Science53%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Pelican Elementary School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, May 10, 2018

I love pelican elementary my kids go there they love it so much, the teachers work one on one with your child and my kids have succeed si much there. 5 stars Close Quote

Schools Near Pelican Elementary School

Load more schools when map is moved

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 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 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
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%)	42.9	1321^st of 2240 public elementary schools	41.0%		45.7	1212^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.3%	109	63.0	48.0	59.0				65.0	60.0	52.0				53.0						$10,736	$882	$9,855
Heritage Charter Academy Of Cape Coral	Public, Charter	K-8	2107 Santa Barbara Blvd	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	Yes	No	No	No	(239) 829-5134	234	0	46.4	93.2%	85 (36.3%)	7 (3.0%)	123 (52.6%)	5 (2.1%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (5.1%)	13.3	2076^th of 2240 public elementary schools	7.3%		16.1	2008^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.1%	68	38.0	41.0	33.0	50.0	64.0	56.0	47.0	38.0	33.0	35.0	64.0		39.0	56.0	100.0			70.0	$8,665	$182	$8,483
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%)	76.4	468^th of 2240 public elementary schools	79.1%		74.2	527^th of 2258 public elementary schools	76.7%	59	77.0	69.0	76.0				76.0	72.0	77.0				65.0						$10,969	$741	$10,228
Skyline Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	620 SW 19th St	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 772-3223	1,141	61	18.7	52.4%	454 (39.8%)	70 (6.1%)	556 (48.7%)	10 (0.9%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (4.1%)	34.7	1534^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.5%		40.3	1345^th of 2258 public elementary schools	40.4%	189	50.0	47.0	53.0				67.0	52.0	59.0				46.0						$11,075	$1,295	$9,780
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%)	67.3	702^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	68.7%		67.7	698^th of 2258 public elementary schools	69.1%	4	59.0	70.0	69.0				61.0	76.0	74.0				73.0						$12,402	$691	$11,711
Patriot Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	711 SW 18th St	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 242-1023	954	50	19.0	52.1%	322 (33.8%)	67 (7.0%)	515 (54.0%)	6 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (4.6%)	35.5	1512^th of 2240 public elementary schools	32.5%		40.2	1353^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	40.1%	159	61.0	47.0	54.0				66.0	52.0	49.0				47.0						$10,291	$1,148	$9,144
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%)	83.1	309^th of 2240 public elementary schools	86.2%		82.2	361^st of 2258 public elementary schools	84.0%	52	76.0	68.0	81.0				77.0	79.0	85.0				78.0						$9,555	$00	$9,555
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%)	66	728^th of 2240 public elementary schools	67.5%		59.7	888^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.7%	160	53.0	65.0	70.0				72.0	79.0	66.0				70.0						$11,586	$879	$10,707
Mid Cape Global Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	76 Mid Cape Ter	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	Yes	No	No	No	(239) 995-0904	1,145	53	21.6	55.8%	160 (14.0%)	101 (8.8%)	858 (74.9%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	20 (1.7%)	35.8	1503^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	32.9%		22	1847^th of 2258 public elementary schools	18.2%	344	59.0	51.0	52.0	60.0	54.0	70.0	66.0	52.0	37.0	46.0	72.0	68.0	53.0	61.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	82.0	$8,008	$35	$7,973
Caloosa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	620 Del Prado Blvd S	Cape Coral	33990	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 574-3113	968	58	16.5	52.7%	347 (35.8%)	72 (7.4%)	475 (49.1%)	19 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (5.7%)	57.7	942^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	57.9%		54.9	989^th of 2258 public elementary schools	56.2%	47	61.0	67.0	59.0				67.0	75.0	67.0				50.0						$12,890	$1,531	$11,359

Frequently Asked Questions about Pelican Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Pelican Elementary School?

Students at Pelican Elementary School are 45% Hispanic, 44% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Pelican Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Pelican Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Caloosa Middle School
Middle : Challenger Middle School
Middle : Diplomat Middle School
Middle : Gulf Middle School
Middle : Mariner Middle School
Middle : Trafalgar Middle School
High : Cape Coral High School
High : Ida S. Baker High School
High : Island Coast High School
High : Mariner High School
High : North Fort Myers High School

What district is Pelican Elementary School in?

Lee

Is Pelican Elementary School a good school?

Pelican Elementary School ranks 1321^st of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pelican Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 963 students attended Pelican Elementary School.

Rate Pelican Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida Elementary School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Cape Coral, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Pelican Elementary School!

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.