District reports big school grade boost
The 2025-2026 District Grade Report for the School District of Lee County showed the highest point total in a decade, as well as 29 schools improving their letter grades from a year ago.
The district also strengthened its overall B rating.
The state’s School Grades Report showed 24 schools earning an A, and 29 schools earning a B. Four schools improved by two letter grades and 25 improved by one letter grade. There were 37 more points earned collectively this year than last for district schools.
The report also showed no D or F schools.
The Lee County School District total grade points was 752 in 2026, compared to 715 in 2025 and 705 in 2024.
Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the growth in school grades came from a deliberate strategy that put people and instruction first.
“This growth came from a deliberate strategy that put people and instruction first. We made sure every classroom had a certified teacher who taught students the Florida Benchmarks, and we backed those teachers with incentive pay of up to $9,000 in critical subject areas at our highest-need schools,” she said. “From there, we increased instructional coaching and direct classroom support so teachers had a partner in the room, added 30 minutes of instructional time at the high school level, and protected that time with a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones so students could stay focused on learning.”
The transportation department also played a role by increasing on-time morning arrival rate for buses to 98% which got students in their seats, and ready to start the day.
“The focus this past year was simple: strengthen the classroom experience and remove the distractions that get in the way of it,” Carlin said.
The elementary schools that improved by two grades were Tortuga Preserve Elementary School from a D to a B; J. Colin English Elementary School from a C to an A, Hancock Creek Elementary School from a C to an A and San Carlos park Elementary from an C to an A, Carlin said these schools accomplished the goal with a tremendous amount of pride.
“A jump like that does not happen by accident. It reflects principals, teachers, and support staff who committed to a plan and stayed with it, along with students who rose to the challenge,” she said. “These school communities have every reason to celebrate, and we are celebrating right alongside them.”
The middle schools that saw an improvement included Harns Marsh Middle School improving from a B to an A; Trafalgar Middle School from a B to an A; Lexington Middle School from a C to a B, and Mariner Middle School from a C to a B.
The high schools that saw gains include Gateway High School earning an A in just its sixth year of operation, Fort Myers High School went from a B to an A and Cypress Lake High School went from a B to an A.
The focus going into the 2026-207 school year is to stay the course on what is working while continuing to raise the bar.
“That means continuing to invest in our teachers, focusing on teaching the Florida Benchmarks, protecting instructional time, and expanding the coaching and classroom support that made a real difference this year,” Carlin said. “Our goal is to become an A-rated district by 2028, and with nearly two-thirds of our traditional public schools now rated a B or higher, we are well on our way. The work continues, and we are focused on helping every school take its next step forward.”
She said it is a shared victory.
“Earning our highest point total in a decade, with no school rated a D or an F, is a milestone that belongs to our entire community, from our classrooms to our bus loops to the families who support their students every day,” Carlin said. “We are proud of how far we have come and even more excited about where we are headed. This is a win for the School District of Lee County, and it is a win for Lee County.”