- Enrollment
- 3,192
- Students per teacher
- 51.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lehigh Acres, FL
Sunshine Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sunshine Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120108002472
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunshine Elementary School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Florida schools.
- #1 of 7
- schools in Lehigh Acres · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.5:1
- large classes for Florida
- 74.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunshine Elementary School has class sizes larger than 89% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunshine Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 schools in Lehigh Acres, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+76 students YoY
Sunshine Elementary School grew from 1,301 students in 2022-23 to 1,377 in 2023-24 (+5.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 62.0 → 57.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+76 students YoY 120108002472 · Lehigh Acres, FL Other · MID · TRAD
1,456 enr · 23.5:1 · 74.2% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students)
Sunshine Elementary School grew from 1,301 students in 2022-23 to 1,377 in 2023-24 (+5.8%). Teacher FTE lost 62.0 → 57.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Sunshine 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
Sunshine Elementary School
1,456 students
What this shows Sunshine Elementary School reports 1,456 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunshine Elementary School compares
Sunshine 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 | 23.5:1 | ▲ 32% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.2% | ▲ 43% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,456 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.5:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,456
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% 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
23.5:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 89% in Florida - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
35.0%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.8%
African American 24.3%
White 8.8%
Two or More 2.6%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, Sunshine Elementary School is about as mixed as 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 Sunshine Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Charter Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lehigh Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gateway High School | Larger | Lower 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunshine 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 (~1,456 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Sunshine Elementary School
How many students attend Sunshine Elementary School?
Sunshine Elementary School has 1,456 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lehigh Acres, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,301 (2022-23) → 1,377 (2023-24), up 76.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunshine Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunshine Elementary School is 23.5:1, which is 32% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sunshine Elementary School?
74.2% of students at Sunshine Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunshine Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sunshine Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.8% of enrollment, in Lehigh Acres, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunshine Elementary School?
Sunshine Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sunshine Elementary School rank among schools in Lehigh Acres?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunshine Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 schools in Lehigh Acres, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lehigh Acres on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee?
Besides Sunshine 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.