Public schools in Fort Myers, FL
49 open public schools with an address in Fort Myers, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
49
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
36,764
49 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.2:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
6
5 magnet · 3 virtual
An overview of Fort Myers public schools
The federal directory lists 49 public schools in Fort Myers, FL: 22 elementary, 6 middle, 13 high, 8 combined or other. The 49 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 36,764 students, an average of 750 per school. The largest campus is Gateway Charter School (3,192 students), and the largest elementary school is Heights Elementary School (1,057).
Every listed school belongs to Lee. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 19.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 16.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 6 charter schools, 5 magnet schools, 3 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 14 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 16 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 46% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Fort Myers
Elementary schools in Fort Myers
22Middle schools in Fort Myers
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress Lake Middle School Lee · Magnet | 06–08 | 768 | 19.1:1 | |
| Fort Myers Middle School Lee | 06–08 | 687 | 20.8:1 | |
| Lexington Middle School Lee | 06–08 | 1,054 | 20.1:1 | |
| Oak Hammock Middle School Lee · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,242 | 19.8:1 | |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School Lee | 06–08 | 999 | 18.1:1 | |
| Three Oaks Middle School Lee | 06–08 | 1,091 | 22.9:1 |
High schools in Fort Myers
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Palms Charter High School Lee · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 104 | 26:1 | |
| Cypress Lake High School Lee · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,429 | 22.4:1 | |
| Dunbar High School Lee · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,734 | 22:1 | |
| Fort Myers High School Lee · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,835 | 23.3:1 | |
| Fort Myers Technical College Lee · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Gateway High School Lee | 09–12 | 2,343 | 25.1:1 | |
| Island Park High School Lee · Charter · Alternative School | 07–12 | 296 | 42.3:1 | |
| Lee County Acceleration Academies Lee · Alternative School | 08–12 | 230 | — | |
| Lee County Jail Lee · Alternative School | 07–12 | 4 | — | |
| Riverdale High School Lee | 09–12 | 1,916 | 24.9:1 | |
| South Fort Myers High School Lee | 09–12 | 1,693 | 23:1 | |
| Southwest Florida Juvenile Detention Center Lee · Alternative School | 06–12 | 41 | 11.7:1 | |
| Young Parent Education Program Lee · Alternative School | 06–12 | 48 | 5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Fort Myers
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Exceptional Student Center Lee · Special Education School | PK–12 | 60 | 5.5:1 | |
| County Wide Exceptional Child Programs Lee · Special Education School | PK–12 | 94 | — | |
| Early Childhood Learning Services Lee | PK–PK | 187 | — | |
| Gateway Charter School Lee · Charter | PK–12 | 3,192 | 26.6:1 | |
| Lee County Virtual Franchise Lee · Virtual | PK–12 | 796 | 22.7:1 | |
| Lee Virtual Instruction Program Lee · Virtual | KG–12 | 0 | — | |
| Royal Palm Exceptional School Center Lee · Special Education School | PK–12 | 99 | 3.7:1 | |
| Success Academy Lee · Alternative School | KG–12 | 84 | 4.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White25.7%
- Hispanic49%
- Black20.1%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3%
Enrollment-weighted across 46 Fort Myers schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (36,764 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Fort Myers
How many public schools are in Fort Myers, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 49 open public schools with a location address in Fort Myers: 22 elementary, 6 middle, 13 high, 8 combined or other. Together they reported 36,764 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Fort Myers?
All listed public schools with an address in Fort Myers belong to Lee. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Fort Myers?
Gateway High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Fort Myers, with 2,343 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Fort Myers?
Yes. 6 of the 49 public schools in Fort Myers are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Capstone Academy Charter School Fort Myers, City of Palms Charter High School, Gateway Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Fort Myers schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Fort Myers public schools is 19.2:1, higher than the Florida school median of 16.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Fort Myers guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Florida cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Florida cities