The Sanibel School

Summary:

The Sanibel School is a public elementary and middle school located in Sanibel, Florida, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 289 students. The school has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in Lee District, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for several consecutive years.

The Sanibel School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, consistently outperforming the state and district averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 96% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% proficiency in Civics, compared to 55% and 67% at the state level, respectively. However, the school also has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 10.5% to 20.5% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages.

The Sanibel School's high spending per student, at $41,330 in the 2022-2023 school year, and low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.2 to 14.1 over the past few years, suggest that the school invests heavily in its educational resources and provides a more personalized learning experience for its students. This may contribute to the school's academic success, though it also serves a predominantly white and more affluent population compared to the nearby schools, such as Skyline Elementary School and Harlem Heights Community Charter School.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 3840 Sanibel Captiva Rd
       Sanibel, FL  33957


(239) 472-1617

District: Lee

SchoolDigger Rank:
136th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $41,330 Help


Students who attend The Sanibel School usually attend:

High:    Cypress Lake High School
    Dunbar High School
    Estero High School
    Fort Myers High School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  12.9 Help
Number of students:  289

Racial breakdown:

White:
82.0%
Hispanic:
11.1%
Two or more races:
3.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  12.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details The Sanibel School ranks better than 94% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks first among 58 ranked elementary schools in the Lee School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.23. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details The Sanibel School ranks better than 99% of middle schools in Florida. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.36. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (82%), Hispanic (11.1%), two or more races (3.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 12.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at The Sanibel School is 12.9, which is the 4th best among 58 elementary schools in the Lee School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare The Sanibel School employs 22.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at The Sanibel School is $41,330, which is the 2nd highest among 58 elementary schools in the Lee School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

The Sanibel School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks The Sanibel School 12th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See The Sanibel School in the ranking list.)

Lee:

SchoolDigger ranks Lee 50th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for The Sanibel School.

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Rank History for The Sanibel School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 97.78 4th 199 98.0%
2005 95.91 10th 202 95.0%
2006 94.66 44th 1688 97.4%
2007 92.87 49th 1786 97.3%
2008 96.30 10th 1789 99.4%
2009 93.80 30th 1847 98.4%
2010 94.39 26th 1919 98.6%
2011 95.28 13th 1985 99.3%
2012 93.59 66th 1984 96.7%
2013 96.42 17th 2029 99.2%
2014 95.41 31st 2064 98.5%
2016 96.68 23rd 2087 98.9%
2017 92.58 85th 2112 96.0%
2018 92.95 79th 2118 96.3%
2019 94.08 48th 2182 97.8%
2021 95.37 48th 2247 97.9%
2022 94.58 57th 2219 97.4%
2023 94.53 52nd 2240 97.7%
2024 91.23 136th 2256 94.0%
See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for The Sanibel School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 97.57 3rd 593 99.5%
2005 96.38 9th 602 98.5%
2006 97.49 5th 675 99.3%
2007 98.00 5th 736 99.3%
2008 97.03 5th 740 99.3%
2009 94.73 12th 780 98.5%
2010 94.95 9th 839 98.9%
2011 95.17 12th 891 98.7%
2012 92.58 43rd 897 95.2%
2013 96.46 14th 956 98.5%
2014 96.50 14th 999 98.6%
2016 96.69 17th 997 98.3%
2017 95.80 21st 1031 98.0%
2018 90.67 80th 1035 92.3%
2019 96.19 20th 1099 98.2%
2021 94.94 32nd 1136 97.2%
2022 94.26 36th 1148 96.9%
2023 95.17 32nd 1177 97.3%
2024 97.36 12th 1196 99.0%
See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

The Sanibel School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    









Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, April 16, 2017

Open Quote My son is a student there. It is a small school with a lot of parental involvement. To get to the school involves crossing a toll bridge ($6) . There are no city buses that go over to the island, which keeps it exclusive. Parents tend to be professionals or in the service industry. Kids are very nice. Close Quote



Enrollment information for The Sanibel School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 191 2 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 196
1989 206 3 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 211
1990 214 5 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 222
1991 232 10 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 246
1992 240 9 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 252
1993 248 8 2 6 0 n/a n/a 0 264
1994 250 6 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 261
1995 277 5 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 289
1996 277 5 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 289
1997 239 9 3 8 0 n/a n/a 0 259
1998 240 7 4 10 0 n/a n/a 0 261
1999 250 7 4 10 0 n/a n/a 0 271
2000 323 8 2 15 0 n/a n/a 0 348
2001 370 7 4 23 0 n/a n/a 0 404
2002 413 9 2 19 0 n/a n/a 0 443
2003 413 9 2 19 0 n/a n/a 0 443
2004 392 3 1 20 0 n/a n/a 0 416
2005 394 4 1 23 0 n/a n/a 0 422
2006 374 4 2 17 0 n/a n/a 0 397
2007 346 3 5 19 1 n/a n/a 10 384
2008 327 4 2 18 1 n/a n/a 11 363
2009 331 4 3 21 0 n/a n/a 11 370
2010 327 8 4 23 0 n/a n/a 3 365
2011 310 8 2 22 0 0 2 0 344
2012 285 6 9 24 0 0 1 0 325
2013 277 6 8 26 0 0 6 0 323
2014 286 9 6 25 1 0 5 0 332
2015 281 4 6 26 1 0 8 0 326
2016 272 3 7 31 3 0 10 0 326
2017 259 3 6 27 1 0 7 0 303
2018 252 1 7 22 0 0 6 0 288
2019 235 0 4 17 2 0 6 0 264
2020 263 1 3 29 2 0 5 0 303
2021 227 0 3 22 2 0 5 0 259
2022 217 0 4 24 1 1 5 0 252
2023 237 2 6 32 1 0 11 0 289

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at The Sanibel School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 196 8.0 24.5 4.1
1989 211 11.0 19.1 0.5
1990 222 14.0 15.8 2.3
1991 246 15.0 16.4 5.7
1992 252 15.0 16.8 2.4
1993 264 11.0 24.0 3.4
1994 261 12.0 21.8 2.3
1995 289 15.0 19.3 4.5
1996 289 15.0 19.3 4.5
1997 259 13.0 19.9 8.5
1998 261 14.0 18.6 6.1
1999 271 15.0 18.1 14
2000 348 19.0 18.3 10.3
2001 404 23.0 17.6 6.7
2002 443 23.0 19.3 6.5
2003 443 23.0 19.3 6.5
2004 416 23.0 18.1 8.7
2005 422 22.0 19.2 8.5
2006 397 24.0 16.5 7.3
2007 384 25.0 15.4 9.1
2008 363 27.0 13.4 6.8
2009 370 26.3 14.2 12
2010 365 25.0 14.6 14.6
2011 344 25.3 13.5 15.4
2012 325 24.1 13.4 16.3
2013 323 27.0 11.9 15.2
2014 332 26.0 12.7 14.8
2015 326 25.0 13.0 21.8
2016 326 26.0 12.5 19.3
2017 303 25.0 12.1 22.4
2018 288 26.0 11.0 23.3
2019 264 25.6 10.3 16.3
2020 303 23.5 12.8 14.2
2021 259 23.0 11.2 12.4
2022 252 17.8 14.1 12.3
2023 289 22.3 12.9 12.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio The Sanibel School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 196 8.0 24.5 4.1
1989 211 11.0 19.1 0.5
1990 222 14.0 15.8 2.3
1991 246 15.0 16.4 5.7
1992 252 15.0 16.8 2.4
1993 264 11.0 24.0 3.4
1994 261 12.0 21.8 2.3
1995 289 15.0 19.3 4.5
1996 289 15.0 19.3 4.5
1997 259 13.0 19.9 8.5
1998 261 14.0 18.6 6.1
1999 271 15.0 18.1 14
2000 348 19.0 18.3 10.3
2001 404 23.0 17.6 6.7
2002 443 23.0 19.3 6.5
2003 443 23.0 19.3 6.5
2004 416 23.0 18.1 8.7
2005 422 22.0 19.2 8.5
2006 397 24.0 16.5 7.3
2007 384 25.0 15.4 9.1
2008 363 27.0 13.4 6.8
2009 370 26.3 14.2 12
2010 365 25.0 14.6 14.6
2011 344 25.3 13.5 15.4
2012 325 24.1 13.4 16.3
2013 323 27.0 11.9 15.2
2014 332 26.0 12.7 14.8
2015 326 25.0 13.0 21.8
2016 326 26.0 12.5 19.3
2017 303 25.0 12.1 22.4
2018 288 26.0 11.0 23.3
2019 264 25.6 10.3 16.3
2020 303 23.5 12.8 14.2
2021 259 23.0 11.2 12.4
2022 252 17.8 14.1 12.3
2023 289 22.3 12.9 12.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for The Sanibel School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $360 (3.0%) $11,637 (97.0%) $11,997
2019 $568 (4.0%) $13,527 (96.0%) $14,095
2020 $603 (4.9%) $11,697 (95.1%) $12,300
2021 $968 (6.9%) $13,001 (93.1%) $13,970
2022 $2,129 (14.8%) $12,228 (85.2%) $14,357
2023 $2,361 (5.7%) $38,969 (94.3%) $41,330

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on The Sanibel School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 48th of 2182 Elementary schoolsRanks 52nd of 2240 Elementary schools
 0.1%
Ranks 20th of 1099 Middle schoolsRanks 32nd of 1177 Middle schools
 0.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)9174
 17%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5848
 10%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5853
 5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)9193
 2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Lee)6156
 5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)6258
 4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)8580
 5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5552
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5857
 1%
4th Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)7987
 8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Lee)6259
 3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6461
 3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)9192
 1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5450
 4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5655
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)8995
 6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Lee)5851
 7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6052
 8%
5th Grade Science (The Sanibel School)8174
 7%
   5th Grade Science (Lee)5050
   5th Grade Science (Florida)5351
 2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)8494
 10%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5249
 3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)9269
 23%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Lee)4733
 14%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)8976
 13%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5146
 5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5248
 4%
7th Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)9481
 13%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Lee)5743
 14%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5446
 8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (The Sanibel School)9186
 5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5747
 10%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5649
 7%
8th Grade Mathematics (The Sanibel School)10087
 13%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Lee)6049
 11%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)4642
 4%
8th Grade Science (The Sanibel School)8788
 1%
   8th Grade Science (Lee)4643
 3%
   8th Grade Science (Florida)4844
 4%
End of Course Civics (The Sanibel School)9697
 1%
   End of Course Civics (Lee)6760
 7%
   End of Course Civics (Florida)7166
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (The Sanibel School)86100
 14%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Lee)6048
 12%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students264289
 9.5%
African American02
American Indian21
 50%
Asian46
 50%
Hispanic1732
 88.2%
Pacific Islander00
White235237
 0.9%
Two or More Races611
 83.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients16.3%12.1%
 4.2%


Schools Near The Sanibel School









Frequently Asked Questions about The Sanibel School

Yes. The Sanibel School ranks in the top 6.0% of Florida elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 289 students attended The Sanibel School.

Students at The Sanibel School are 82% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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