- Enrollment
- 3,192
- Students per teacher
- 51.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cape Coral, FL
Gulf Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Gulf Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120108002332
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gulf Elementary School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Florida schools.
- #8 of 10
- schools in Cape Coral · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Florida
- 38.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Gulf Elementary School has class sizes larger than 82% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gulf Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Cape Coral, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-68 students YoY
Gulf Elementary School shrank from 1,231 students in 2022-23 to 1,163 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE added 56.1 → 58.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-68 students YoY 120108002332 · Cape Coral, FL Other · MID · TRAD
1,193 enr · 21.3:1 · 38.2% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students)
Gulf Elementary School shrank from 1,231 students in 2022-23 to 1,163 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE added 56.1 → 58.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Gulf Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gateway Charte
Gateway Charter Elementary School
3,192 students
- Lehigh Senior
Lehigh Senior High School
2,550 students
- Gateway High S
Gateway High School
2,343 students
- Ida S. Baker H
Ida S. Baker High School
2,191 students
- East Lee Count
East Lee County High School
2,129 students
- This school 1,193
Gulf Elementary School
1,193 students
What this shows Gulf Elementary School reports 1,193 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gulf Elementary School compares
Gulf Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.3:1 | ▲ 20% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.2% | ▼ 27% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,193 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,193
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 82% in Florida - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
27.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,108
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 1193 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.8%
Hispanic or Latino 36.4%
Two or More 5.7%
African American 2.4%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 53.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.4, Gulf Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lee reports $12,108 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gulf Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Charter Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lehigh Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gateway High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ida S. Baker High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lee County High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gulf Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,550
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 2,343
- Students per teacher
- 31.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,191
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,129
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,193 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gulf Elementary School
How many students attend Gulf Elementary School?
Gulf Elementary School has 1,193 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cape Coral, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,231 (2022-23) → 1,163 (2023-24), down 68.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gulf Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gulf Elementary School is 21.3:1, which is 20% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gulf Elementary School?
38.2% of students at Gulf Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gulf Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Gulf Elementary School is White at 53.8% of enrollment, in Cape Coral, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gulf Elementary School?
Gulf Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gulf Elementary School rank among schools in Cape Coral?
By Resource Investment Index, Gulf Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Cape Coral, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cape Coral on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee?
Besides Gulf Elementary School, Lee also operates Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students), Lehigh Senior High School (2,550 students), and Gateway High School (2,343 students). See the Lee district page for the complete list.