- Enrollment
- 3,192
- Students per teacher
- 51.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Myers, FL
James Stephens Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James Stephens Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120108007597
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Stephens Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Florida schools.
- #21 of 29
- schools in Fort Myers · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.1:1
- large classes for Florida
- 65.4%
- free-lunch eligible
James Stephens Elementary School has class sizes larger than 95% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Stephens Elementary School ranks #21 of 29 schools in Fort Myers, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+87 students YoY
James Stephens Elementary School grew from 454 students in 2022-23 to 541 in 2023-24 (+19.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 26.5 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+87 students YoY 120108007597 · Fort Myers, FL Other · MID · TRAD
730 enr · 28.1:1 · 65.4% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students)
James Stephens Elementary School grew from 454 students in 2022-23 to 541 in 2023-24 (+19.2%). Teacher FTE lost 26.5 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
James Stephens 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 730
James Stephens Elementary School
730 students
What this shows James Stephens Elementary School reports 730 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Stephens Elementary School compares
James Stephens Elementary School is a growing 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 | 28.1:1 | ▲ 58% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.4% | ▲ 26% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 730 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.1:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
730
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
28.1:1
students per teacher
- 58% above state mean
Top 95% in Florida - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
24.9%
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 730 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 40 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 53.0%
African American 38.9%
White 5.5%
Two or More 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 53.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.4, James Stephens 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 James Stephens Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Charter Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lehigh Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gateway High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ida S. Baker High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Lee County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Stephens 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 (~730 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Stephens Elementary School
How many students attend James Stephens Elementary School?
James Stephens Elementary School has 730 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Myers, FL. CCD year-over-year: 454 (2022-23) → 541 (2023-24), up 87.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Stephens Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Stephens Elementary School is 28.1:1, which is 58% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 79% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Stephens Elementary School?
65.4% of students at James Stephens Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Stephens Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James Stephens Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 53.0% of enrollment, in Fort Myers, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Stephens Elementary School?
James Stephens Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 James Stephens Elementary School rank among schools in Fort Myers?
By Resource Investment Index, James Stephens Elementary School ranks #21 of 29 schools in Fort Myers, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fort Myers on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee?
Besides James Stephens 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.