Summer is officially over in just a few days for Lee County public school students, with school starting Tuesday.
“We are excited to build off the tremendous success our students demonstrated in the 2025-2026 School Grades report,” School District of Lee County spokesperson Rob Spicker wrote in an email to The News-Press & Naples Daily News.
So, what changes can students and their families expect this school year, other than the several new principal and assistant principal appointments?
What will be different this year?
The school district will continue focusing on increasing achievement in the classroom this year, in addition to adding new elements for students.
“One new element we are extremely proud of is our dual enrollment agreement with the University of Florida. High school students who meet the requirements can take class and earn credit from UF,” Spicker wrote in the email. “No other school or school system in Southwest Florida offers this opportunity.”
This year, the district will also see some major changes with opening of three new schools and the expansion of two others.
Hector A. Cafferata Jr. K-8 in Cape Coral will open this year replacing the elementary school destroyed by Hurricane Ian, while expanding the middle school capacity in Cape Coral with K-8 designation.
“Green Meadow Elementary opens in a temporary campus behind Lehigh Senior High School to accommodate our large elementary student population in the Lehigh area,” Spicker’s email said. “Students will spend two years in the temporary campus while we plan for and build a permanent school for them on State Road 82.”
Cypress Lake Middle School will also welcome students back in October after they spent instructional time in portables while the school was demolished and a new one was constructed.
Bayshore K-8 in North Fort Myers will be expanded with the middle school building to be completed near the end of this year.
“At Bonita Springs Elementary, we have replaced an unsafe building with 16 new classrooms and office space,” the email said. “These new rooms are ready for students on the first day of school, while the renovations will continue through the school year to build a new cafeteria and spaces for both the art and music programs.”
Other important reminders
Bus Patrol will be back in full force starting on the first day of school.
“The cameras on our buses capture video of cars that illegally pass a stopped bus,” according to Spicker. “Law enforcement reviews the video, and if the illegal pass is confirmed, the registered owner of the car receives a $225 citation in the mail.”
Last school year, over 25,000 citations were issued, according to Spicker.
“It is critical we continue to send a message that student safety is our first priority,” the email said. “Drivers can protect students getting on and off the bus while avoiding an expensive citation by following the law.”
Will start and dismissal times change this year?
“No, our bell times are not changing from a year ago,” Spicker wrote in the email. “The Safe Start Initiative developed last school year to create a three-tiered bell schedule resulted in dramatically improving the on-time performance of our school buses in the morning to 96%. We expect continued improvement in the coming school year.”
Are phones or electronic devices allowed in school?
The School District of Lee County implemented a bell-to-bell no cell phone policy ahead of the 2025-26 school year, which will remain unchanged for this school year.
This means, all students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade must keep their phones off and put away for the entire school day, or leave the devices at home.
This is in accordance with a Florida state law prohibits high school students from using electronic devices during instructional time unless advised to do so by a teacher.
You can reach Naples Daily News reporter Alexa Ryan by emailing Alexa.Ryan@naplesnews.com. Follow her on Instagram @alexaryanreports or X @AlexaRyan_.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What will be different in Lee County schools this year?
Reporting by Alexa Ryan, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alexa Ryan, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
