Lee County is proud to introduce its three newest magnet schools: Bonita Springs Elementary, Edgewood Academy, and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary. These schools join three of our middle schools from the 2017 cohort and in 2021 an East zone elementary and South zone high school. The middle schools are located in the East area of Lee County. Each magnet school implements enhanced academics and arts enrichment for every student and actively markets their programs to attract diverse families.
Bonita Springs Elementary will enhance its educational program through STEAM integration. Bonita Springs Elementary staff is committed to integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into every classroom. Edgewood Academy will adopt an Arts & Sciences magnet and partner with essential arts and science organizations/businesses to strengthen its infrastructure supporting learning and enrichment for its students. Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary will create a Leadership, Environmental Education, and Design (LEED) magnet that embraces local environmental science involving all students. Hector A. Cafferata will collaborate with environmentally focused companies and organizations to engage their students in meaningful, local efforts to support and sustain conservation initiatives.
James Stephens Elementary is a STEM magnet school that provides a hands-on, engaging science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum to its students. James Stephens Elementary integrates STEM into all disciplines: social studies, science, English/Language Arts, mathematics and special areas such as media, art, music and physical education to create a whole school magnet approach. The school partners with key science and engineering organizations to strengthen its infrastructure supporting STEM.
South Fort Myers High School is a Cambridge and Career Academy magnet program that prepares its students for future college and career opportunities. Students may choose the Cambridge/AICE program that provides college preparation and college level coursework. Or students may choose among four career academies: Automotive & Construction, Health & Safety, Technology, and the new academy, Hospitality & Tourism where they earn industry certifications. Local business partners provide students with internships in order to receive real world, on-the-job training. Students in both programs are supported by trained and caring educators to ensure they graduate and move on to postsecondary education or a professional career.
Lehigh Acres Middle School, a Premier STEAM Magnet School, blends science, technology, engineering and mathematics with the arts and delivers STEAM courses to its 1,350 students. Over the summer Lehigh Acres hosted their first STEAM camp for incoming sixth grade students. Students, teachers, and parents shared many positive comments about the engaging STEAM camp. Lehigh Acres added FUSE Studio this year. FUSE uses a studio environment to ignite STEAM exploration by using innovative challenges. FUSE challenges are designed around student interests in music, design, and pop culture and are embedded with STEAM practices. Its collaborative, student-centered community makes learning fun! Popular challenges include designing a solar car, printing 3D jewelry, building a dream home and more. Lehigh Acres teachers utilize Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to enhance learning through virtual museum tours or virtual field trips to various locations around the globe.
Oak Hammock Middle School, a Magnet School for the Arts, supports 1,500 students in schoolwide arts integration and is enhancing rigor through pure arts amalgamation. Oak Hammock has partnered with a non-profit art gallery and the City of Fort Myers to feature student work at the city’s Art Walk that occurs once a month. Oak Hammock students have a designated place in the art gallery where their work is featured regularly. Student collaborative artwork will be sold and proceeds will go back to support the Arts at Oak Hammock. Students from Oak Hammock also participate in a similar monthly event, Music Walk, to showcase their melodious talents.
Harns Marsh Middle School, A Magnet Academy for the Arts and Academics, pairs the arts with the internationally recognized Cambridge program for its 1,300 students. Harns Marsh partnered with a nearby high school in the spring to perform a musical for local elementary students and families in the community. This was a great way for future students to see the talents of Harns Marsh on stage. Harns Marsh has added keyboarding and a full orchestra this year to their school programming. Afterschool enrichment is provided in chorus, dance, band, and orchestra so every student has multiple opportunities to engage in the arts. Students are considered scholars at Harns Marsh as they maneuver their way through the Cambridge curriculum.