- Enrollment
- 3,192
- Students per teacher
- 51.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fort Myers, FL
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120108001128
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Florida schools.
- #5 of 6
- middle schools in Fort Myers · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.4:1
- large classes for Florida
- 50.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School has class sizes larger than 78% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School ranks #5 of 6 middle schools in Fort Myers, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School held near 995 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 49.8 → 45.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 120108001128 · Fort Myers, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
999 enr · 20.4:1 · 50.5% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students)
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School held near 995 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 49.8 → 45.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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 999
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School
999 students
What this shows Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School reports 999 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School compares
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.4:1 | ▲ 15% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.5% | ▼ 3% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 999 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
999
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 78% in Florida - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
35.4%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 500 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 18 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.3%
African American 31.0%
White 20.7%
Asian 4.7%
Two or More 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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 Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gateway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ida S. Baker High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lee County High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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 middle 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 (~999 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School has 999 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fort Myers, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,007 (2022-23) → 995 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School is 20.4:1, which is 15% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?
50.5% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 40.3% of enrollment, in Fort Myers, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School rank among middle schools in Fort Myers?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School ranks #5 of 6 middle 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 middle schools in Fort Myers on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee?
Besides Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle 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.