2026 data 45 schools FL

Best Schools in FORT MYERS, FL

45 public K-12 schools in FORT MYERS from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

45 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in FORT MYERS, FL using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

45
Schools
34,795
Students
Avg Quality
18.8:1
Avg Class Size

How the FORT MYERS Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

FORT MYERS, FL enrolls 34,795 students across 45 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 7 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 18.8:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in FORT MYERS is Gateway Charter Elementary School, scoring 59/100 (C) with 3,192 enrolled students at the other level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

FORT MYERS schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect FORT MYERS housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

FORT MYERS school enrollment varies 798× across entities

FORT MYERS school enrollment ranges from 4 students (lowest) to 3,192 students (highest), a spread of 3,188 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

FORT MYERS has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 50.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

FORT MYERS operates only 1 school district — among the most consolidated governance structures in the country

Most FORT MYERS school districts are a single unified district covering the whole city — a structural feature that simplifies inter-school comparison but concentrates policy authority. Consolidation produces narrower variance because resources pool across larger populations, but it can also mask intra-school district inequities — sub-school district differences within a single school district are not visible at this aggregation level. Consolidated systems typically rely more heavily on top-down funding formulas than on local revenue variability.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

FORT MYERS student-teacher ratio is 18.8:1 — high (typically associated with larger urban scale or staffing constraints that have widened the headcount gap)

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

FORT MYERS has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 15.6% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options

charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Areas above 30% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic charter school authorisation formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

# School Score
1. Gateway Charter Elementary School 59 C
2. Riverdale High School 17 F
3. Fort Myers High School 29 F
4. Dunbar High School 32 F
5. South Fort Myers High School 30 F
6. Cypress Lake High School 24 F
7. Oak Hammock Middle School 28 F
8. Three Oaks Middle School 29 F
9. Heights Elementary School 35 F
10. Treeline Elementary School 29 F
11. Lexington Middle School 30 F
12. Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School 25 F
13. Three Oaks Elementary School 36 F
14. Allen Park Elementary School 26 F
15. Gateway Elementary School 30 F
16. Orange River Elementary School 27 F
17. Lee County Virtual Franchise 27 F
18. Villas Elementary School 34 F
19. Six Mile Charter Academy 29 F
20. Cypress Lake Middle School 36 F
21. Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School 26 F
22. James Stephens Elementary School 34 F
23. Manatee Elementary School 22 F
24. Fort Myers Middle Academy 23 F
25. Tanglewood Elementary School 31 F
26. Orangewood Elementary School 27 F
27. Colonial Elementary School 25 F
28. San Carlos Park Elementary School 38 F
29. Gateway Charter High School 53 C-
30. Edgewood Academy 49 D
31. Tice Elementary School 27 F
32. Franklin Park Elementary School 39 F
33. Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School 36 F
34. Athenian Academy Charter School 27 F
35. Island Park High School 23 F
36. Harlem Heights Community Charter School 45 D
37. Early Childhood Learning Services 30 F
38. City of Palms Charter High School 10 F
39. Royal Palm Exceptional School Center 47 D
40. County Wide Exceptional Child Programs 33 F
41. Success Academy 57 C
42. Buckingham Exceptional Student Center 35 F
43. Young Parent Education Program 59 C
44. Southwest Florida Juvenile Detention Center 50 C-
45. Lee County Jail 15 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in FORT MYERS, FL?

The top-rated school in FORT MYERS is Gateway Charter Elementary School with a quality score of 59/100. There are 45 public schools in FORT MYERS with 34,795 total students.

How many schools are in FORT MYERS, FL?

FORT MYERS has 45 public schools with a total enrollment of 34,795 students. 7 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 18.8:1.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.