Summary:
The five schools in Fort Myers' zip code 33908, part of the Lee County School District, serve elementary through high school grades and present a dramatic range of academic performance, from a top-tier elementary school to a high school in crisis.
Rayma C. Page Elementary School is the standout performer, consistently earning a 4-star rating with test scores well above state averages, a low free/reduced lunch rate of 32.42%, and a favorable 17:1 student-teacher ratio. In contrast, Island Park High School is in a state of crisis, with a 39.5% graduation rate, a 91.2% chronic absenteeism rate, and a staggering 42.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Harlem Heights Community Charter School is the lowest-performing elementary school, ranking in the bottom 3% of Florida elementary schools with a 66.51% free/reduced lunch rate and a 35.3% chronic absenteeism rate. Heights Elementary School performs well, with a 22.1% chronic absenteeism rate, while Lexington Middle School shows a bright spot in advanced coursework, with 95% of students proficient in Geometry despite a low overall state ranking.
Key takeaways include that higher spending per student does not guarantee better results—Harlem Heights spends the most ($12,458) but performs worst, while Rayma C. Page spends a similar amount ($12,351) and excels. Chronic absenteeism and economic disadvantage are strong predictors of performance, with the two high-performing elementary schools having lower rates of both. The data reveals a stark educational divide within this single zip code, where school success is closely tied to stability and resources, not just funding levels.
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