Summary:
This analysis examines two public middle schools in Lehigh Acres, FL (zip code 33936): Lehigh Acres Middle School and Lemuel Teal Middle School, both serving grades 6-8 within the Lee County School District.
Lehigh Acres Middle School stands out as the stronger-performing school overall, with a higher state ranking (24th percentile vs. 18th percentile) and better proficiency in core subjects like ELA (48.7% vs. 44.0%) and math (41.0% vs. 36.0%). However, Lemuel Teal Middle School spends $1,277 more per student ($10,867 vs. $9,590) yet achieves lower results, indicating that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes. Both schools face significant challenges with chronic absenteeism, with rates of 37.7% at Lehigh Acres and 35.4% at Lemuel Teal, both exceeding the district average of 34.6% and state average of 31.4%. This is a critical issue that likely drives the low academic performance across the board.
A bright spot is advanced coursework: both schools excel in Algebra 1, with Lemuel Teal Middle School achieving 88% proficiency and Lehigh Acres Middle School at 81%, far exceeding the state average of 63%. However, grade-level math and 8th-grade science remain major weaknesses, with proficiency rates 10-20 points below state averages. For example, 7th-grade math proficiency is just 21% at Lemuel Teal and 31% at Lehigh Acres, compared to 53% statewide. Parents should note that while both schools have strong advanced programs, they struggle with foundational instruction and high absenteeism, making it essential to consider individual student needs when choosing a school.
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