How are Lee County Schools? (Cape Coral, Bonita Springs: neighborhood, school districts, pros and cons)

[nbres]

Can anyone give me an honest opinion about Lee County Schools.

I'd especially like to hear from folks that presently have kids in the Lee County Schools system or teachers working in the district.

What are the pros and cons?

Which schools are considered the best? mediocre? worst?

How are special education programs rated?

How are the sports programs?

What programs are available for advanced students?

[nbres]

Just revisiting this old post of mine.

Can anyone out there tell me about Lee County Schools in South-West Florida?

The Good and The Bad.

[SoFLGal]

Here is a website that has some information about schools in Florida. You might want to check out specific schools.

[oeabel]

As someone with kids in the Lee County district, I find it frustrating and poorly planned. It is definitely a busing nightmare because of school choice. There are a lot of kids where we are but because they go to so many different schools, it takes away from the true neighborhood feel.

I'm still trying to figure out the options for my son who needs a good gifted program. We're in a charter school right now but he will be in middle school soon and I don't want him in the same school. They just don't have what he needs because he is such an out-of-the-box kid and needs options.

Because our kids go to the charter school, I can't really talk much about the sports, etc. We participate in a smaller pool of teams and function kind of outside the regular district, for better or worse.

Feel free to ask any other specific questions, either in this thread or by message. I've been doing a lot of asking and researching lately so I can move my kids next year so I think I'm getting a better picture of the district.

[nbres]

Originally Posted by oeabel

As someone with kids in the Lee County district, I find it frustrating and poorly planned. It is definitely a busing nightmare because of school choice. There are a lot of kids where we are but because they go to so many different schools, it takes away from the true neighborhood feel.

I'm still trying to figure out the options for my son who needs a good gifted program. We're in a charter school right now but he will be in middle school soon and I don't want him in the same school. They just don't have what he needs because he is such an out-of-the-box kid and needs options.

Because our kids go to the charter school, I can't really talk much about the sports, etc. We participate in a smaller pool of teams and function kind of outside the regular district, for better or worse.

Feel free to ask any other specific questions, either in this thread or by message. I've been doing a lot of asking and researching lately so I can move my kids next year so I think I'm getting a better picture of the district.

Thanks...for the info. It seems that there are some problems with Lee County Schools. How good are the special education programs for kids with autism?

[novanative75]

I spent a brief time working there and they are terrible. No schools around here, Collier, Lee, etc. are worth much. I think you might find one or two schools that meet your needs but the school districts are in the toilet, with not a lot of optimism for them to get out!

[whippersnapper]

I think the autism program is pretty good. I know a few of the autism teachers and they work so hard with/for their students. I used to work in an autism classroom and I miss it. How old is your child? How severe?

[Catchsnook]

....if they are Charter schools.

The only thing that will help Florida schools is Charter schools.

Lee county has great Charter schools-

• Bonita Springs Charter School
• Cape Coral Charter School
• Gateway Charter School (broken link)
• Gateway Charter High School

[oeabel]

I could make a really good case for why charter schools (at least ones run by charterschoolsusa) are not doing good things for education but I'm tired of being upset with them so I'm just biding my time until I can pull my kids out.

[hiknapster]

Big business has no business sticking its nose into our tradition of public schools for all.