*Information Based on Cycle 2 October 2025 Enrollment Count and Includes Charter Schools
Isaiah Vargas loves what he does for a living. A 2019 graduate of South Fort Myers High, Vargas became a skilled welder in the school’s welding academy, under the tutelage of instructor Tim Greenwell. Vargas now owns his own welding company, Elevated Steel, LLC, and employs some of his former SFMHS classmates. Vargas credits his time in Greenwell’s welding program for his current success. “I’m very blessed to [have been] part of this program,” he says.
Heights Elementary fourth grader Camden Davis was diagnosed with amblyopia (commonly referred to as “lazy eye”) at an early age. After a series of treatments, Camden’s eyesight went from 20/50 in her weak eye to 20/25 by the time she entered kindergarten. Now, she’s doing what she can to help other children with amblyopia get the same treatment she received. She started “Cami’s Caps”, where she makes custom hats, sells them to classmates and school staff, and donates a portion of the proceeds to Lighthouse of Southwest Florida - an organization that helps people of all ages afflicted with low vision or vision loss.
Each December, South Fort Myers High TV Production teacher Jay Rumple puts his likeness to St. Nick to good use. He dons a festive red robe and hat, and greets students as Santa Claus to help fill the halls with a little holiday cheer. It’s partly to honor his late father, who had planned to dress up as Santa the year he passed away. “For one magical day, [the students] can feel the true spirit of Christmas, and that unconditional caring, unconditional love… And I think through all that, I can honor my dad's memory,” Rumple said.
Under the leadership of Harns Marsh Middle School science teacher Barbara Rebeor, the school’s science department ranked #2 in the district in 2024 and her 8th grade students increased their proficiency on the FSA test by 15%. School leaders praised her ability to analyze data and create rigorous lesson plans. For her efforts, Rebeor was named the 2025 Lee County Teacher of the Year. “These kids inspire me every single day. Their creativity, their quest for discovery. They make it so easy to want more for them,” Rebeor said.
ChangeThe School District fulfilled an original Change for Change campaign promise with the opening of the new Franklin Park Elementary School. As the first Community Resource School, Lee Health, the United Way, and other agencies have their own building on site to serve students and their families.
Demolition began at Cypress Lake Middle School to fulfill a second Change for Change campaign promise. Students are in portable classrooms while the school is rebuilt with 200 additional student stations.
Riverdale High School was able to remove all the portables from its campus with the opening of a 14 classroom science building. The project also included a new gym with three times the capacity of the original one, improved parking, and upgraded classrooms.