Summary:
Zip code 33990 in Cape Coral, Florida, is home to two public schools—Caloosa Elementary School and Caloosa Middle School—both part of the Lee County School District, which ranks in the 20th percentile statewide.
These two schools, located on the same street and sharing the "Caloosa" name, offer starkly different educational experiences. Caloosa Elementary is the standout, earning a consistent 3-star rating and outperforming state averages in math and English Language Arts across multiple grade levels. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency reaches 75%, well above the state’s 65%. It also benefits from lower chronic absenteeism (27.3% vs. the state’s 31.4%), higher per-student spending ($12,890), and a more favorable student-teacher ratio (16.5:1). In contrast, Caloosa Middle School struggles with a 1-star rating, driven by a critical weakness in 7th-grade math, where only 24% of students are proficient compared to 53% statewide. Its chronic absenteeism rate is alarmingly high at 40.8%, and it spends less per student ($10,764) with a larger class size (20.7:1).
A key takeaway is the sharp drop in performance from elementary to middle school within this feeder pattern, suggesting a need for targeted support during the transition. Despite its overall challenges, Caloosa Middle shows a silver lining in advanced math, with 88% proficiency in Algebra 1, indicating strong acceleration for top students. However, the school’s high economic disadvantage rate (57.66% free/reduced lunch) and systemic issues in core subjects highlight areas requiring urgent attention. For parents, Caloosa Elementary provides a stable, above-average foundation, while Caloosa Middle presents significant concerns that warrant careful consideration.
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