District raises grad rate, still lags behind state numbers
Although the School District of Lee County raised its 2025 graduation rate by 4%, it is still behind state level numbers.
The state average raised by 2.5%, taking it to 92.2%, which is the highest graduate rate in Florida’s history.
During the school board’s meeting on Jan. 15, Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the district beat the state with improvement, but it is still behind.
The district’s overall graduation rate reached 89.8%, compared to the state’s 92.2%.
“That 4% point jump is the largest we have had in four years,” she said. “We are still number nine out of 10 when it comes to graduation rate. We keep closing that gap. It’s the second highest jump out of the big 10.”
Carlin said although Polk County had a 5.7% jump in its graduation rate, Lee County was ranked higher out of the big 10.
“We have the second highest jump out of the top 10. It’s something to celebrate,” she said.
Carlin highlighted a few schools — Lehigh Senior High School had a 7.3% jump to 96.55%, and Island Coast High School had a 5.1% jump in its graduation rate.
According to the district, all 15 traditional high schools and Lee Virtual School received 90% graduation rates or above and nine schools reached a 97% graduation rate or higher.
Both North Fort Myers High School and Fort Myers High School had 99% graduation rates.
Carlin said the nontraditional schools, the schools that really work with challenging populations, continue to make improvements, although they do not show as much of a jump in their graduation rates.
In addition, the district recorded its lowest dropout rate at 1.5%. In 2023-24 it was 1.8% and 2022-23 was 2.4%.
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