Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary-level schools in zip code 34135 (Bonita Springs, FL), serving grades PK through 8, and reveals a stark performance divide within the Lee County school district, which ranks in the 20th percentile statewide.
Bonita Springs Charter School stands out as the top performer, with 1,287 students, a 3-star rating, and state ranking in the 47th-56th percentile. It is the only school offering advanced coursework, achieving 95-100% proficiency on End-of-Course exams, and has the lowest economic disadvantage rate (38.38%). In contrast, Oak Creek Charter School Of Bonita Springs is the lowest-performing, with a 0-star rating, a 1st percentile state ranking, and only 10% of 5th graders proficient in math versus the state average of 62%. It also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (40.4%) and economic disadvantage rate (98.54%). Spring Creek Elementary School performs well, ranking in the 59th percentile with a 3-star rating, while Bonita Springs Elementary School lags behind in the 19th percentile with a 1-star rating.
A key paradox is that higher per-student spending does not correlate with better outcomes. The lowest-ranked schools, Bonita Springs Elementary ($14,225) and Spring Creek Elementary ($12,260), spend the most, while the top-ranked Bonita Springs Charter spends the least ($8,047). Chronic absenteeism is a critical indicator, with Oak Creek Charter's rate nearly double that of other schools. Math proficiency is a systemic weakness across the area, especially in upper elementary grades, with only two schools exceeding state averages in 5th-grade math. The two charter schools represent opposite extremes, showing that the "charter" label alone does not determine quality.
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