San Carlos Park Elementary School

Summary:

San Carlos Park Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Myers, Florida, serving 655 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Lee District, which is ranked 50 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

While San Carlos Park Elementary shares the same district and rating as many of the surrounding schools, it consistently underperforms them in key areas. The school has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (52.98%) compared to nearby schools, and has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 12.9% in 2019-2020 to 30.9% in 2022-2023. Academically, the school's test scores in English Language Arts and Math are consistently lower than the Lee District and Florida state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate was 43%, compared to 48% for the Lee District and 55% for the state.

Despite the school's high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (ranging from 53.53% to 56.22%) and a steady increase in spending per student (from $9,629 in 2019-2020 to $14,286 in 2022-2023), San Carlos Park Elementary's performance has declined over the years, dropping from a statewide ranking of 917 out of 2,064 Florida elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 1,573 out of 2,256 in 2023-2024. In comparison, Pinewoods Elementary School, located just 4.85 miles away, has significantly higher test scores and a lower chronic absenteeism rate.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 17282 Lee Rd
       Fort Myers, FL  33967


(239) 267-7177

District: Lee

SchoolDigger Rank:
1573rd of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,286 Help


Students who attend San Carlos Park Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Bonita Springs Middle Center For The Arts
    Lexington Middle School
    Three Oaks Middle School
High:    Cypress Lake High School
    Dunbar High School
    Estero High School
    Fort Myers High School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  13.9 Help
Number of students:  655

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
53.0%
White:
33.6%
African American:
7.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  56% Help


 See top rated Florida elementary schools

 Compare San Carlos Park Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details San Carlos Park Elementary School ranks worse than 69.7% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 36th among 58 ranked elementary schools in the Lee School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.61. (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: Hispanic (53%), White (33.6%), African American (7.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 56% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at San Carlos Park Elementary School is 13.9, which is the 6th best among 58 elementary schools in the Lee School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare San Carlos Park Elementary School employs 47 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at San Carlos Park Elementary School is $14,286, which is the 8th highest among 58 elementary schools in the Lee School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

San Carlos Park Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Lee:

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


What do you think?

Your rating for San Carlos Park Elementary School?

Rank History for San Carlos Park Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 50.96 853rd 1688 49.5%
2007 54.12 868th 1786 51.4%
2008 48.85 960th 1789 46.3%
2009 49.28 996th 1847 46.1%
2010 46.05 1115th 1919 41.9%
2011 48.17 1096th 1985 44.8%
2012 36.33 1291st 1984 34.9%
2013 50.56 985th 2029 51.5%
2014 55.30 917th 2064 55.6%
2016 43.01 1194th 2087 42.8%
2017 24.29 1658th 2112 21.5%
2018 33.86 1431st 2118 32.4%
2019 25.24 1706th 2182 21.8%
2021 41.42 1281st 2247 43.0%
2022 31.94 1515th 2219 31.7%
2023 36.38 1430th 2240 36.2%
2024 31.61 1573rd 2256 30.3%
See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

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

San Carlos Park Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.3)
57%

0%

0%

0%

43%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, February 25, 2022

Open Quote Great ESE Prek and kindergarten teachers. Unfortunately we moved to Lehigh and have to change. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, January 2, 2020

Open Quote BEWARE. Some employee at this school filed a report to child services for an eczema skin condition causing small scars on the arms of my child. The child is african american so said scars are more visible. There was no communication to me prio and the child has a prescription and HAS been to the doctor.

Pretty scary to have child services show up at your house and it can have pretty bad consequences even if you are an exemplary parent.

Beware of this school. The staff is vengeful and they do not have your children's best interests at heart. That is irregardless of their consistent low grade, being one of the worst elementary schools in SWFL. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Open Quote Friendly staff, great after school program, and loved all our teachers so far! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, August 17, 2018

Open Quote This school went down so bad. They used to have good principal and assistant principal like 12 years ago when my older son used to go there. It also was A+ school. Now it's a nightmare very disorganised very unprofessional. It's lowest of lowest. My younger son is going there Now and I thought I'll give it a try and it's so unfortunate because it's a designated by areea of your zip code he did not get to go to our first choice which would be Three Oaks Elementary. I would not recommend this school for someone who cares about their child to succeed.
Pros: none
Cons: disorganized, bad dismissal procedures, always changing kids around so they can never be with their friends in the same class and it's extremely difficult for kids to adjust especially when there is so much bullying going on and no one address these issues. They force kids to have school lunches cause they think that healthy lunch they have packed is not enough. If your child loose something like sweater forget about it you will never get it back no one cares to even help looking. They don't teach kids well at all and against cursive handwriting. It's HORRIBLE SCHOOL Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, March 5, 2012

Open Quote We have continually been disappointed and angered by the attitude of the principal. If you are a parent that wants the best for their child, and a partnering with school administration, seek another school. This is not a school that seeks excellence for each child, it is a school that is lead by an autocrat who wants conformity and that takes a very lazy approach to problem solving. It is run much the way a scaled back factory is run, who cares about quality, just get the product (your child) out the door. Terribly sad. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, June 20, 2010

Open Quote I was extremely sceptical when my daughter was given SCPE, however they have certainly changed my perception. My daughter had excelled so much in Kindergarten and the staff have been great. I hope that this will continue throughtout my kids stay at SCPE. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Open Quote Have always found the teachers, administration and all staff helpful above and beyond the call of duty. They all give extra effort in academics and are devoted to the welfare of the children. Close Quote



Enrollment information for San Carlos Park Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1168 69 3 31 2 n/a n/a 0 1273
1989 712 114 8 18 0 n/a n/a 0 852
1990 755 100 6 13 1 n/a n/a 0 875
1991 839 82 7 14 0 n/a n/a 0 942
1992 829 81 6 22 2 n/a n/a 0 940
1993 811 86 6 17 2 n/a n/a 0 922
1994 796 112 3 27 2 n/a n/a 0 940
1995 611 125 5 92 2 n/a n/a 0 835
1996 611 125 5 92 2 n/a n/a 0 835
1997 607 187 9 120 1 n/a n/a 0 924
1998 596 201 6 143 2 n/a n/a 0 948
1999 593 163 7 136 1 n/a n/a 0 900
2000 622 126 7 170 2 n/a n/a 0 927
2001 619 95 8 216 2 n/a n/a 0 940
2002 583 103 11 263 1 n/a n/a 0 961
2003 583 103 11 263 1 n/a n/a 0 961
2004 578 127 8 282 1 n/a n/a 0 996
2005 533 117 9 310 3 n/a n/a 0 972
2006 493 108 10 279 1 n/a n/a 0 891
2007 476 64 15 275 2 n/a n/a 41 873
2008 440 80 17 293 2 n/a n/a 44 876
2009 398 68 17 333 1 n/a n/a 47 864
2010 395 74 18 319 1 n/a n/a 25 832
2011 379 71 17 367 1 1 14 0 850
2012 373 78 18 365 0 1 15 0 850
2013 368 73 17 409 1 1 21 0 890
2014 331 66 16 402 1 1 15 0 832
2015 356 65 13 437 1 1 23 0 896
2016 372 79 19 479 3 1 29 0 982
2017 353 74 20 507 2 0 15 0 971
2018 354 74 18 469 1 0 20 0 936
2019 319 69 9 500 1 0 18 0 916
2020 290 68 11 450 0 1 25 0 845
2021 245 53 15 351 0 1 18 0 683
2022 242 52 23 346 0 0 17 0 680
2023 220 52 23 347 0 0 13 0 655

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 San Carlos Park Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1273 62.0 20.5 20.8
1989 852 38.0 22.4 23.7
1990 875 43.0 20.3 22.3
1991 942 45.0 20.9 21.7
1992 940 41.0 22.9 18.6
1993 922 40.0 23.1 18.3
1994 940 45.0 20.9 22.3
1995 835 38.0 22.0 33.9
1996 835 38.0 22.0 33.9
1997 924 47.0 19.7 38.4
1998 948 47.0 20.2 43.5
1999 900 45.0 20.0 48.7
2000 927 47.0 19.7 48.1
2001 940 44.0 21.4 47.7
2002 961 46.0 20.9 49.1
2003 961 46.0 20.9 49.1
2004 996 51.0 19.5 48.9
2005 972 60.0 16.2 49.2
2006 891 56.0 15.9 46.9
2007 873 57.0 15.3 44.7
2008 876 60.5 14.5 51.7
2009 864 59.7 14.6 62.3
2010 832 59.0 14.1 70.9
2011 850 60.1 14.1 69.4
2012 850 61.5 13.8 72.2
2013 890 65.0 13.6 74.4
2014 832 65.0 12.8 74.3
2015 896 68.0 13.1 77.3
2016 982 73.0 13.4 61.6
2017 971 72.0 13.4 58.3
2018 936 78.0 12.0 58.4
2019 916 65.2 14.0 54.7
2020 845 54.5 15.5 56.1
2021 683 48.3 14.1 56.2
2022 680 52.0 13.0 53.5
2023 655 47.0 13.9 56

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 San Carlos Park Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1273 62.0 20.5 20.8
1989 852 38.0 22.4 23.7
1990 875 43.0 20.3 22.3
1991 942 45.0 20.9 21.7
1992 940 41.0 22.9 18.6
1993 922 40.0 23.1 18.3
1994 940 45.0 20.9 22.3
1995 835 38.0 22.0 33.9
1996 835 38.0 22.0 33.9
1997 924 47.0 19.7 38.4
1998 948 47.0 20.2 43.5
1999 900 45.0 20.0 48.7
2000 927 47.0 19.7 48.1
2001 940 44.0 21.4 47.7
2002 961 46.0 20.9 49.1
2003 961 46.0 20.9 49.1
2004 996 51.0 19.5 48.9
2005 972 60.0 16.2 49.2
2006 891 56.0 15.9 46.9
2007 873 57.0 15.3 44.7
2008 876 60.5 14.5 51.7
2009 864 59.7 14.6 62.3
2010 832 59.0 14.1 70.9
2011 850 60.1 14.1 69.4
2012 850 61.5 13.8 72.2
2013 890 65.0 13.6 74.4
2014 832 65.0 12.8 74.3
2015 896 68.0 13.1 77.3
2016 982 73.0 13.4 61.6
2017 971 72.0 13.4 58.3
2018 936 78.0 12.0 58.4
2019 916 65.2 14.0 54.7
2020 845 54.5 15.5 56.1
2021 683 48.3 14.1 56.2
2022 680 52.0 13.0 53.5
2023 655 47.0 13.9 56

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 San Carlos Park Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $1,112 (11.6%) $8,461 (88.4%) $9,573
2019 $1,285 (13.3%) $8,382 (86.7%) $9,667
2020 $1,146 (11.9%) $8,483 (88.1%) $9,629
2021 $1,401 (12.6%) $9,686 (87.4%) $11,088
2022 $2,980 (22.2%) $10,434 (77.8%) $13,414
2023 $3,113 (21.8%) $11,173 (78.2%) $14,286

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

Impact of COVID-19 on San Carlos Park Elementary 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 1706th of 2182 Elementary schoolsRanks 1430th of 2240 Elementary schools
 14.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (San Carlos Park Elementary School)5240
 12%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5848
 10%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5853
 5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (San Carlos Park Elementary School)4646
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Lee)6156
 5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)6258
 4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (San Carlos Park Elementary School)5037
 13%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5552
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5857
 1%
4th Grade Mathematics (San Carlos Park Elementary School)4647
 1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Lee)6259
 3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6461
 3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (San Carlos Park Elementary School)4143
 2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)5450
 4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5655
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (San Carlos Park Elementary School)4049
 9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Lee)5851
 7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6052
 8%
5th Grade Science (San Carlos Park Elementary School)3341
 8%
   5th Grade Science (Lee)5050
   5th Grade Science (Florida)5351
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students916655
 28.5%
African American6952
 24.6%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian923
 155.6%
Hispanic500347
 30.6%
Pacific Islander00
White319220
 31%
Two or More Races1813
 27.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients54.7%56%
 1.3%


Schools Near San Carlos Park Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about San Carlos Park Elementary School

Students at San Carlos Park Elementary School are 53% Hispanic, 34% White, 8% African American, 4% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 655 students attended San Carlos Park Elementary School.

San Carlos Park Elementary School ranks 1573rd of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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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