Lee County School District limiting elementary school options

Starting Monday, you have the chance to learn about The School District of Lee County’s plan to keep your child learning closer to home. As of August 2022, elementary school students will no longer be able to go to any school they want.

The District says the biggest differences will be noticed down the Fort Myers-McGregor corridor because the area has the highest density of schools and students.

There is an interactive draft map on the district website. You can enter your address, and it will show you where you stand.

The positives of this change:

• Fewer schools you have to pick between
• Shorter bus routes
• Your child will be attending a school not far from home

“So what the proximity is going to do is it’s going to narrow down the number of options the parents have to choose when they’re looking at elementary schools in open enrollment,” said Rob Spicker with Lee County Schools. “Those choices are really going to be community-based schools. They will look at the schools that are closest to them now.”

But on the other hand, this change could impact the elementary school your child is already attending, and some parents aren’t okay with that.

“I think that no child should be taken out of school for that reason — like, that’s a huge deal for kids,” said Stephanie Ruiz, a Lee County parent. “She’s already got her friends. I already trust the school … No, that would be awful.”

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