The School District of Lee County is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2026, whose graduates secured a collective $79.9 million in scholarships to fund their higher education and career goals.
This historic financial milestone highlights the School District's commitment to providing students with the rigorous academic foundations and college-readiness resources needed to unlock life-changing financial aid. Leading the charge this year was Cape Coral High School, whose seniors brought in an astounding $17.4 million, followed closely by Gateway High School at $12.9 million, and Fort Myers High School at $8 million.
A significant portion of this year's funding came through the Florida Bright Futures Program, which awarded over $21 million in tuition coverage to district graduates. Nearly 900 local students qualified for these state scholarships, with 506 earning the top-tier Florida Academic Scholarship (covering 100% of in-state tuition) and 369 securing the Florida Medallion Scholarship (covering 75% of in-state tuition).
Thanks to these earned dollars and outstanding academic records, Class of 2026 graduates are taking their next steps at some of the world's most prestigious institutions. This year’s class features students heading to elite Ivy League universities, highly selective military academies, top-tier public and private institutions in Florida and across the nation, and specialized technical centers.
While thousands of graduates are pursuing higher education, many others are using their District foundations to immediately impact the economy, with hundreds jumping straight into the workforce, enlisting in the Armed Forces, or starting their own businesses.
The Class of 2026 by the Numbers:
- Attend a four-year college or university: 1,968
- Attend a two-year community or state college: 1,651
- Attend a technical college or school: 917
- Enter the workforce: 636
- Enter the Armed Forces: 353
- Start a business: 125