Varsity Lakes Middle School

Summary:

Varsity Lakes Middle School is a public middle school located in Lehigh Acres, Florida, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 1,307. 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.

Varsity Lakes Middle School faces significant challenges, including a higher percentage of Hispanic students (58%) compared to nearby schools, a sharp increase in chronic absenteeism (from 12.0% to 39.5%), and consistently underperforming the Lee District and the state of Florida in standardized tests. The school also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 58.9% to 61.74%. While the school's spending per student has increased, from $7,396 in 2019-2020 to $10,751 in 2022-2023, this has not translated into improved student outcomes.

In comparison, some nearby schools, such as Cypress Lake Middle School and Three Oaks Middle School, perform significantly better on these metrics, with higher proficiency rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better statewide rankings. The challenges faced by Varsity Lakes Middle School suggest that the school may be struggling to provide equitable educational opportunities for its predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged student population, and that targeted interventions and support are needed to address the underlying issues.

Detail:

Public 6-8

801 Gunnery Rd N
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971

(239) 694-3464

District: Lee

SchoolDigger Rank:
907^th of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,751

Students who attend Varsity Lakes Middle School usually attend:

High:	Dunbar High School
	East Lee County High School
	Lehigh Senior High School
	Riverdale High School

Feeder schools for Varsity Lakes Middle School:

Elementary:	Bayshore Elementary School
	Edgewood Academy
	G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School
	Gateway Elementary School
	More...
	Harns Marsh Elementary School
	James Stephens Elementary School
	Lehigh Elementary School
	Manatee Elementary School
	Mirror Lakes Elementary School
	Orange River Elementary School
	River Hall Elementary School
	Sunshine Elementary School
	The Alva School
	Tice Elementary School
	Tortuga Preserve Elementary School
	Treeline Elementary School
	Veterans Park Academy For The Arts

Student/teacher ratio: 20.1

Number of students: 1,307

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

58.0%

African American:

26.1%

White:

11.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 61.7%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Varsity Lakes Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Varsity Lakes Middle School ranks worse than 75.8% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks 16^th among 17 ranked middle schools in the Lee School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.47. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (58%), African American (26.1%), White (11.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 61.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Varsity Lakes Middle School is 20.1. 12 middle schools in the Lee School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Varsity Lakes Middle School employs 64.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Varsity Lakes Middle School is $10,751, which is the 6^th highest among 17 middle schools in the Lee School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Varsity Lakes Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Varsity Lakes Middle School 907^th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Varsity Lakes Middle School in the ranking list.)

Lee:

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

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Rank History for Varsity Lakes Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2007	47.09	415^th	736	43.6%
2008	44.55	442^nd	740	40.3%
2009	47.63	443^rd	780	43.2%
2010	50.71	447^th	839	46.7%
2011	61.09	362^nd	891	59.4%
2012	61.10	344^th	897	61.6%
2013	74.04	230^th	956	75.9%
2014	73.94	232^nd	999	76.8%
2016	60.56	357^th	997	64.2%
2017	56.51	431^st	1031	58.2%
2018	50.16	514^th	1035	50.3%
2019	42.64	643^rd	1099	41.5%
2021	29.72	805^th	1136	29.1%
2022	25.28	880^th	1148	23.3%
2023	27.38	877^th	1177	25.5%
2024	26.47	907^th	1196	24.2%

See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

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

Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Varsity Lakes Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2005	366	130	5	222	3	n/a	n/a	0	726
2006	412	159	7	331	3	n/a	n/a	0	912
2007	435	176	11	346	2	n/a	n/a	43	1013
2008	406	205	6	390	2	n/a	n/a	47	1056
2009	332	185	9	331	2	n/a	n/a	42	901
2010	319	212	8	386	4	n/a	n/a	32	961
2011	310	219	15	431	5	0	20	0	1000
2012	282	245	22	513	7	1	26	0	1096
2013	242	230	26	465	3	1	21	0	988
2014	248	249	25	457	4	1	15	0	999
2015	234	288	25	490	1	0	12	0	1050
2016	240	290	22	488	3	1	25	0	1069
2017	249	307	19	552	3	2	23	0	1155
2018	259	295	21	626	5	2	34	0	1242
2019	273	312	21	702	2	0	35	0	1345
2020	243	345	24	698	1	0	42	0	1353
2021	208	341	18	669	1	0	38	0	1275
2022	202	372	20	672	1	0	47	0	1314
2023	151	341	14	758	1	2	40	0	1307

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 Varsity Lakes Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	726	41.0	17.7	58.1
2006	912	46.0	19.8	55.9
2007	1013	56.0	18.1	54.9
2008	1056	59.0	17.9	61.8
2009	901	53.6	17.0	69.5
2010	961	54.5	17.6	75.5
2011	1000	54.7	18.2	75.8
2012	1096	65.9	16.6	78.8
2013	988	65.0	15.2	79.3
2014	999	60.0	16.6	78
2015	1050	62.0	16.9	80.3
2016	1069	62.0	17.2	61.4
2017	1155	66.0	17.5	55.4
2018	1242	75.0	16.5	57.9
2019	1345	74.6	18.0	54.5
2020	1353	61.8	21.8	52.5
2021	1275	64.1	19.8	58.9
2022	1314	67.7	19.4	61
2023	1307	64.8	20.1	61.7

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 Varsity Lakes Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	726	41.0	17.7	58.1
2006	912	46.0	19.8	55.9
2007	1013	56.0	18.1	54.9
2008	1056	59.0	17.9	61.8
2009	901	53.6	17.0	69.5
2010	961	54.5	17.6	75.5
2011	1000	54.7	18.2	75.8
2012	1096	65.9	16.6	78.8
2013	988	65.0	15.2	79.3
2014	999	60.0	16.6	78
2015	1050	62.0	16.9	80.3
2016	1069	62.0	17.2	61.4
2017	1155	66.0	17.5	55.4
2018	1242	75.0	16.5	57.9
2019	1345	74.6	18.0	54.5
2020	1353	61.8	21.8	52.5
2021	1275	64.1	19.8	58.9
2022	1314	67.7	19.4	61
2023	1307	64.8	20.1	61.7

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 Varsity Lakes Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$853 (11.4%)	$6,621 (88.6%)	$7,474
2019	$851 (11.2%)	$6,721 (88.8%)	$7,572
2020	$853 (11.5%)	$6,543 (88.5%)	$7,396
2021	$986 (12.8%)	$6,741 (87.2%)	$7,727
2022	$2,193 (24.4%)	$6,791 (75.6%)	$8,984
2023	$3,006 (28.0%)	$7,746 (72.0%)	$10,751

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Varsity Lakes Middle 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 643^rd of 1099 Middle schools	Ranks 877^th of 1177 Middle schools	16%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	50	38	12%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	52	49	3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	31	20	11%
6th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	47	33	14%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	53	35	18%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	51	46	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	52	48	4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	56	24	32%
7th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	57	43	14%
7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	54	46	8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	54	36	18%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	57	47	10%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	49	7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	34	29	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	60	49	11%
8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	46	42	4%
8th Grade Science (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	38	32	6%
8th Grade Science (Lee)	46	43	3%
8th Grade Science (Florida)	48	44	4%
End of Course Civics (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	63	45	18%
End of Course Civics (Lee)	67	60	7%
End of Course Civics (Florida)	71	66	5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Varsity Lakes Middle School)	91	84	7%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Lee)	60	48	12%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1345	1307	2.8%
African American	312	341	9.3%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	21	14	33.3%
Hispanic	702	758	8%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	273	151	44.7%
Two or More Races	35	40	14.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	54.5%	61.7%	7.2%

Schools Near Varsity Lakes Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)			FAST Math (2024)			Statewide Science Science (2024)	EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Civics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Varsity Lakes Middle School	Public	6-8	801 Gunnery Rd N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 694-3464	1,307	65	20.1	61.7%	151 (11.6%)	341 (26.1%)	758 (58.0%)	14 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	40 (3.1%)	26.5	907^th of 1196 public middle schools	24.2%		27.4	877^th of 1177 public middle schools	25.5%	30	36.0	36.0	36.0	35.0	22.0	52.0	30.0	74.0		48.0	$10,751	$3,006	$7,746
Harns Marsh Middle School	Public	6-8	1820 Unice Ave N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 690-2025	1,422	72	19.7	59.9%	173 (12.2%)	289 (20.3%)	904 (63.6%)	20 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (2.3%)	33.8	810^th of 1196 public middle schools	32.3%		35.5	765^th of 1177 public middle schools	35.0%	45	34.0	32.0	41.0	41.0	18.0	58.0	41.0	75.0		51.0	$9,803	$2,638	$7,165
Oak Hammock Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	5321 Tice St	Fort Myers	33905	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(239) 693-0469	1,563	83	18.7	56.2%	284 (18.2%)	153 (9.8%)	1,071 (68.5%)	13 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (2.6%)	27.7	896^th of 1196 public middle schools	25.1%		29.4	850^th of 1177 public middle schools	27.8%	46	42.0	31.0	31.0	51.0	20.0	51.0	28.0	79.0		40.0	$9,910	$2,840	$7,070
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School	Public	6-8	4750 Winkler Avenue Ext	Fort Myers	33966	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 334-1357	1,007	50	20.2	50.5%	243 (24.1%)	312 (31.0%)	362 (35.9%)	42 (4.2%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (4.4%)	30.1	863^rd of 1196 public middle schools	27.8%		45.2	630^th of 1177 public middle schools	46.5%	233	40.0	42.0	41.0	33.0	10.0	52.0	30.0	83.0	100.0	57.0	$9,326	$1,732	$7,594
Lemuel Teal Middle School	Public	6-8	104 Arthur Ave	Lehigh Acres	33936	Lee County	Lee	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(239) 303-5990	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)	34.0	27.0	18.0	41.0	18.0	31.0	14.0	47.0		36.0
Lehigh Acres Middle School	Public	6-8	651 Sunrise Blvd.	Lehigh Acres	33936	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 369-6108	1,356	67	20.3	64.0%	200 (14.7%)	330 (24.3%)	764 (56.3%)	12 (0.9%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.3%)	30.7	857^th of 1196 public middle schools	28.3%		29.7	847^th of 1177 public middle schools	28.0%	10	38.0	40.0	41.0	48.0	20.0	51.0	30.0	66.0		48.0	$10,394	$2,957	$7,438
Fort Myers Middle Academy	Public	6-8	3050 Central Ave	Fort Myers	33901	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 936-1759	687	36	19.2	67.0%	64 (9.3%)	324 (47.2%)	276 (40.2%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.9%)	19.3	1007^th of 1196 public middle schools	15.8%		13.8	1052^nd of 1177 public middle schools	10.6%	45	30.0	32.0	34.0	31.0	24.0	41.0	23.0	78.0		44.0	$12,527	$3,521	$9,006
Three Oaks Middle School	Public	6-8	18500 3 Oaks Pkwy	Fort Myers	33967	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 267-5757	1,099	49	22.4	31.7%	632 (57.5%)	24 (2.2%)	379 (34.5%)	36 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.5%)	67.8	355^th of 1196 public middle schools	70.3%		76.4	239^th of 1177 public middle schools	79.7%	116	58.0	57.0	56.0	75.0	24.0	80.0	56.0	86.0		65.0	$9,445	$1,650	$7,794
Cypress Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	8901 Cypress Lake Dr	Fort Myers	33919	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	No	(239) 481-1533	781	42	18.6	39.3%	359 (46.0%)	77 (9.9%)	295 (37.8%)	13 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.4%)	70.9	321^st of 1196 public middle schools	73.2%		64	391^st of 1177 public middle schools	66.8%	70	64.0	60.0	60.0	72.0	23.0	74.0	58.0	94.0		74.0	$12,810	$2,273	$10,536
Caloosa Middle School	Public	6-8	610 Del Prado Blvd S	Cape Coral	33990	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 574-3232	935	49	19.0	56.6%	381 (40.7%)	93 (9.9%)	418 (44.7%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (3.5%)	38.2	745^th of 1196 public middle schools	37.7%		42.3	672^nd of 1177 public middle schools	42.9%	73	41.0	41.0	44.0	50.0	31.0	56.0	37.0	83.0		59.0	$11,136	$2,434	$8,702

Frequently Asked Questions about Varsity Lakes Middle School

How many students attend Varsity Lakes Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,307 students attended Varsity Lakes Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Varsity Lakes Middle School?

Students at Varsity Lakes Middle School are 58% Hispanic, 26% African American, 12% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Varsity Lakes Middle School in?

Lee

Is Varsity Lakes Middle School a good school?

Varsity Lakes Middle School ranks in the bottom 24.2% of Florida middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Varsity Lakes Middle School attend?

Students who attend Varsity Lakes Middle School usually go on to attend Dunbar High School

Rate Varsity Lakes Middle School!

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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.