How are Lee County Schools? (Cape Coral, Fort Myers: 2009, credit, home)

[oeabel]

I agree. They say they are non-profit but the people who run it are living quite well. They also have stacked the classes so big that they are crowded and don't give much personal attention. My elementary school son is in a class of 29. According to their board minutes, they decided they could ignore the state mandate because they claim they don't get as much money per pupil.

And here I said I wouldn't get into it... sorry!

[POKERMIKE]

Need Any Info For High Schools In Bonita Area I Moving From Ny In 3 Weeks Heard Estero High Is No So Good. And I Dont Know If She Would Be Zoned For Gulf Coast High. I Am Gonna Be Living Off Bonita Beach Road Village Walk ! >...... Please Need Some Help Thanks

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by POKERMIKE

Need Any Info For High Schools In Bonita Area I Moving From Ny In 3 Weeks Heard Estero High Is No So Good. And I Dont Know If She Would Be Zoned For Gulf Coast High. I Am Gonna Be Living Off Bonita Beach Road Village Walk ! >...... Please Need Some Help Thanks

I worked with a lot of teenagers from Estero High. It seemed like it was a very good school. Where did you hear that?

[flborn]

I've heard from several different people not to send my kids to Estero High so I'm looking more at South Ft Myers High.

[Newarkbomb]

Lee county schools are bad achademically. i lived here for 4 years and the middle schools all suck. And now what i kno about the high schools, Cape high has kids about 40% stds, Baker High 50% stds, and theres lots of fights in the cape schools. Fort Myers schools like Dunbar are kinda small and violent but decent education compared to cape coral... as for North Fort Myers its achademics are alright and its not violent..

[dmb1529]

The Lee County School District is at least satisfactory and there are some schools that are good. The problem is that Desegragation has eliminated the ability to depend on attending a neighborhood school.. kids are bussed a lot. If you are moving to Lee County, go to the school district web site and learn about "Choices"...you need to apply for a certain school ASAP... do not wait until closer to the start of school or you will not have many options for selecting a school.

[flborn]

It seems that given the cost of gas these days that Lee County would rethink the whole 'choice' thing. All that gas busing kids everywhere has got to be a huge waste in financial resources.

[nbres]

Anybody out there that either worked in or graduated from Lee County Schools?

I'd like to hear some first hand accounts about the quality of Lee schools?

Are there Advanced Placement programs?

Are kids ready for college upon graduation?

Do Lee kids get into the better colleges?

Are the schools safe?

[geniemomof4]

Replying to the OP - Lee County Schools need help. I don't know of many school districts in this state that do not. The reasons mainly stem from budgets, overcrowding and disorganization. That being said almost any school district in the US can fit that bill. I can't speak about middle and high schools here currently since I have yet to have experience with them for my children. For elementary schools here, it seems that these schools are so concentrated on the FCAT and teaching your child how to take a test instead of actually teaching your child.

I have will have three children in the Lee County School system beginning this school year and we are extremely fortunate that they attend a wonderful elementary school in the Cape that has excellent parent involvement and a fantastic staff. One of my children has Autism and is in an Autistic classroom of 8 children in varying grades K-2 with one teacher and an aide. His teacher is a blessing because she goes that extra mile for everything. Luckily she was trained up north and has lots of experience with Autistic children you do not find in many professionals here because the resources here are lacking tremendously.

As for the high schools here, my husband and I both attended different schools here for a time. I moved from NJ to FL my Junior year of high school and was floored by the differences in academics. It was so lacking that my parents allowed me to return to NJ to live with relatives to finish school. My husband graduated from Cape high school, went to college and has a good professional job. I can't attribute his successes to the school system here though. To be fair, those children who make the most out of their time in school will reap the benefits generally no matter where they attend.

To sum it up for you - we are relocating back north in November to be able to better provide for our children what this place does not offer. Hope I helped a little!

[ChrisA70]

Most of Floridas schools are terrible, it's not only here in SWFL....