Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in Cape Coral, FL (zip code 33991), serving grades PK through 5 (with two schools extending to 8th grade), within the Lee school district, which ranks in the 20th percentile statewide.
The schools in this area present a wide performance spectrum. The standout is Oasis Elementary Charter School-North, ranking in the 84th percentile with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (10.7%) and the second-lowest poverty rate (31.24% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Heritage Charter Academy Of Cape Coral faces significant challenges, ranking in the 7th percentile with a 93.16% poverty rate and 46.6% chronic absenteeism. The strongest traditional public school is Trafalgar Elementary School, ranking in the 68th percentile with the highest per-student spending ($11,586) and strong test scores, such as 79% of 4th graders proficient in Math. Mid Cape Global Academy shows inconsistency: while its overall rank is low (33rd percentile), 100% of its students taking advanced EOCs were proficient. Skyline Elementary School and Patriot Elementary School fall in the middle, with Skyline ranking in the 32nd percentile despite above-average spending.
Key takeaways for parents: Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of performance—schools with the lowest rates (Oasis at 10.7%, Trafalgar at 20.2%) outperform those with the highest (Heritage at 46.6%, Mid Cape at 38.9%). Higher spending does not guarantee success, as Oasis spends below the zip code average ($9,835) yet outperforms Skyline, which spends $11,075. The two charter schools represent extremes, showing that school quality varies widely. Overall, the average chronic absenteeism across the six schools is 30.5%, and the average poverty rate is 54.08%, highlighting systemic challenges that families should consider when evaluating options.
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