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Gulf Elementary School

Q: Is Gulf Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Elementary School ranks 468 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

468^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 79% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Gulf Elementary School in Cape Coral, FL, is a large, high-performing public school serving 1,193 students from Pre-K through 5th grade, and it stands out as the top traditional public elementary in its area with a consistent 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for eight of the last ten years.

Gulf Elementary excels in English Language Arts (ELA), with proficiency rates of 77% in 3rd grade, 69% in 4th grade, and 76% in 5th grade—significantly higher than nearby traditional public schools like Trafalgar Elementary (14-16 points lower) and far above Patriot Elementary and Skyline Elementary (20-30 points lower). The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 20.7%, compared to the Lee district average of 34.6%, and a lower rate of economic disadvantage (37% free/reduced lunch) than most peers. While charter schools like Oasis Charter Elementary School-South and Oasis Elementary Charter School-North match or slightly exceed Gulf’s math scores, Gulf achieves this with a larger, more diverse student body, making its performance especially impressive.

Gulf Elementary is also notably efficient, spending $10,969 per student—less than Cape Elementary ($12,402) and far less than Hector A. Cafferata Junior Elementary ($20,406)—while delivering much higher test scores. The school has shown strong post-pandemic recovery, with chronic absenteeism dropping from 25.9% in 2021-2022 to 20.7% in 2023-2024, outpacing the district. This combination of academic excellence, low absenteeism, and cost-effective operations makes Gulf Elementary a standout choice for families in Cape Coral.

1,193

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,969

Per pupil spending ?

37.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3400 SW 17th Pl
Cape Coral, FL 33914

(239) 549-2726

District: Lee

Students who attend Gulf 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:

White:

53.8%

Hispanic:

36.4%

Two or more races:

5.7%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 83rd percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (73% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Florida elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Lee

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school73%

District avg57%

Florida avg62%

468^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 17% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^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	76.4	468 of 2240	79.1%	★★★★☆
2025	74.2	527 of 2258	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	687 of 2256	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.5	545 of 2240	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	409 of 2219	81.6%	★★★★☆
2021	78.6	463 of 2247	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	84.8	293 of 2182	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	371 of 2118	82.5%	★★★★☆
2017	80.9	363 of 2112	82.8%	★★★★☆
2016	81.5	352 of 2087	83.1%	★★★★☆
2014	74.1	473 of 2064	77.1%	★★★★☆
2013	78.9	372 of 2029	81.7%	★★★★☆
2012	73.7	489 of 1984	75.4%	★★★★☆
2011	76.0	444 of 1985	77.6%	★★★★☆
2010	80.0	319 of 1919	83.4%	★★★★☆
2009	78.3	344 of 1847	81.4%	★★★★☆
2008	75.7	396 of 1789	77.9%	★★★★☆
2007	82.1	284 of 1786	84.1%	★★★★☆
2006	77.3	358 of 1688	78.8%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math75%+11 vs state

English Language Arts74%+14 vs state

Science65%+5 vs state

5.0

2 ratings

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Gulf Elementary 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Oasis Elementary Charter School-North	Public, Charter	K-5	2817 SW 3rd Ln	Cape Coral	33991	Lee County	Lee	Yes	No	No	No	(239) 283-4511	813	50	16.2	31.2%	494 (60.8%)	26 (3.2%)	251 (30.9%)	14 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	26 (3.2%)	81.2	356^th of 2240 public elementary schools	84.1%		88.3	217^th of 2258 public elementary schools	90.4%	139	79.0	71.0	74.0				84.0	85.0	74.0				66.0						$9,835	$00	$9,835
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Elementary School

Is Gulf Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Elementary School ranks 468^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Gulf Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gulf 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

How many students attend Gulf Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,193 students attended Gulf Elementary School.

What district is Gulf Elementary School in?

Lee

What is the racial makeup of Gulf Elementary School?

Students at Gulf Elementary School are 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

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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.