Making the Grade

From year to year, the picture-perfect beaches, wildlife and climate of Southwest Florida keep it at the top of the list for sought-after vacation hotspots. But the region is also making the cut for another list: Both Lee and Collier counties ranked among the 100 fastest growing counties in the United States in 2006, according to the U.S. Census.

It’s no surprise, then, that this growth is translating into increased school populations as well. Nearly 80,000 students were enrolled in Lee public schools during the 2006-2007 school year—the highest annual increase in student enrollment of any district in Florida.

But what does that mean for the quality of the region’s schools? Mostly good things—with the extra students have come extra facilities, faculty incentives and higher test scores across the board.

Lee County
As a testament to Lee County’s growing student population, seven new elementary, middle and high schools opened their doors for the 2007-2008 school year. Though funding and growth remain two of the major challenges faced by the school district, it continues to earn high ranks on a national and local level. Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers was named an Arts Achieve Model School in 2007, making it the second Lee County school to receive the honor, which recognizes schools that offer comprehensive programs in visual and performing arts. The first was Diplomat Middle School in Cape Coral.

Seventy percent of Lee County schools earned an A or B grade in 2007 as determined in part by the results of student performance on the standardized Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. The test, which has traditionally gauged third through 10th grade students’ skills in reading, math and writing, added extra sections in math and science for the first time this year.

Dr. James Browder, superintendent of schools, says school officials know the added sections affected their scores and will use those results in bettering programs already in place. "We will be looking very carefully school by school and subject by subject to ensure that we have plans and programs in place to address the needs of all our students," he says.

Lee County already offers several innovative programs tailored to students’ varying needs. Fort Myers High School provides intensive college prep courses through its International Baccalaureate program, which has earned the school a spot on Newsweek’s list of "Top 100 High Schools" for the past several years. Each of the three zones in the Lee district offers an IB program, and students who qualify for the program may attend the school that offers it, regardless of their subzone. Additionally, parents can choose their children’s school within their particular zone through Lee’s School Choice program, which helps cater to students’ individual needs and works to diversify the county’s student population.

Charter schools—public schools that are operated privately—are increasingly popular options. Since 1996, the number of charter schools in Florida has grown from five to more than 200 last year. Usually smaller than public schools, charter schools have more freedom to tailor curriculum, faculty and teaching formats (though students still must fulfill state requirements). There are currently 14 charter schools operating in Lee County.

Collier County
Collier County comprises 45 public schools and served a total student population of 43,000 in 2006, expected to grow to 50,000 by 2010. Fifty-nine percent of schools earned an A or a B grade for 2007, while the county maintained its B average from last year.
During the past seven years, the number of students involved in Advanced Placement (AP) courses has increased steadily. In 2006, there was a 25 percent increase in the number of students taking AP exams, and the amount of students scoring three or higher (out of a possible five) on the exams increased as well.

The district has earned some high scores of its own—it was awarded the Florida Seal of Best Financial Management from the Florida Board of Education in 2006 for its ability to use and save funds efficiently. The county’s solid tax base lends it to more rapid expansion, including a new, voluntary pre-kindergarten program and the addition of new charter schools and technical high schools. The Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, a branch of the Lorenzo Walker Institute of
Technology, has doubled its enrollment for 2007 to 300 students in the year since it opened.

Private Education
More than 6.5 million students nationwide attend private schools, and that number is on the rise every year. Lee County has more than 60 private schools that range from traditional, religion-based schools like St. Andrew Catholic School to selective college preparatory academies like Fort Myers’ Canterbury School. Smaller religious and alternative schools boast growing student populations, as well. In Collier County, there are approximately 20 private schools, both religious (such as St. Ann School) and secular (the Community School of Naples is one). Class sizes for these schools average 30 students or fewer, allowing for more specialized attention.
Home schooling offers another education alternative in Southwest Florida. The Florida Parent-Educators Association recognizes 15 home-school support groups for Lee and Collier counties.

Higher Education
Though Southwest Florida’s colleges and universities may not have the history of some of their older counterparts, they do offer the high-tech classrooms, off-site learning centers and state-of-the-art facilities to keep them on par with other universities in the state. Edison College, the oldest of the local institutions at 45 years, offers 35 different associate’s degrees and certificate programs to more than 15,000 students at its Naples, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda and LaBelle campuses.

Florida’s newest state university, Florida Gulf Coast University, enrolls more than 8,000 students, a number that has continued to grow by nearly 1,000 students each year. FGCU offers 47 undergraduate majors and 24 graduate programs in addition to a variety of certificate and non-degree-seeking programs and minors.

The newly christened Hodges University (formerly International College) has also experienced a boom in growth, moving from college to university status and increasing its student population to approximately 1,800. The school, which was founded in 1990, offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 15 disciplines.

The private Catholic Ave Maria University bid farewell to its largest graduating class to date in May 2007. Students interested in degrees in theology will find extensive bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs at the university.