Lee County Book of Schools

It’s back to school time across the nation and we’ve put together the Book of Schools - a guide to our local Lee County school system. Before we dive in, it’s important to highlight how our system operates, which you may find unique to many other school systems.

Choice Program

The School District of Lee County uses an open-enrollment system as opposed to a more typical boundary/zoning school system used in other counties and states. Parents with students entering kindergarten, middle school and high school apply to the School District and are assigned a school based on zoning, proximity, siblings, and other variables. 

Most parents really appreciate this type of open-enrollment school system, because they have options in selecting their child’s school. Where the typical boundary/zoning school system often rezones their areas each year, forcing students to switch schools before they complete a level, the open-enrollment system allows students to remain at their assigned school until they complete the highest level of that school. 

Lee County has established the open-enrollment system with the following goals in mind: 

• Achievement
• Equity
• Diversity
• Growth

To read more about the School District of Lee County and its system, click here.  

Lee County is the 9th largest school district in Florida, and 33rd largest in the U.S. There are 44 public elementary schools, 16 public middle schools,13 public high schools, 18 public specialty schools, 25 approved public charter schools and 38 private schools in Lee County.

The following high schools ranked in the U.S. News “Best High Schools” listing for 2014:

• Fort Myers High School - Ranked #51 in FL
• Cape Coral High School - Ranked #77 in FL
• Mariner High School - Ranked #102 in FL
• North Fort Myers High School - Ranked #116 in FL
• Riverdale High School - Ranked #134 in FL
• Ida S. Baker High School -Ranked #136 in FL

Rankings are based on College Readiness, Mathematics, and Reading scores. Click here to see the full listing from U.S. News.

Fort Myers High School was also ranked #18 for the Top U.S. International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools. The IB program offers a high-quality international education to a worldwide community of schools.

Within the School District of Lee County, Fort Myers High School has one of the top IB programs, Dunbar High School is a Microsoft Certified School and The Sanibel School is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. 

We are proud of our area's educational achievements and grateful for our district's unique Choice Program. To learn more about The School District of Lee County, visit their website here.