When schools improve, taxpayers should notice. And this year, Southwest Florida has something worth celebrating.

We spend plenty of time calling out waste, bad decisions, and government programs that don’t deliver. So it’s only fair to recognize when public institutions produce real results.

The newly released 2025–2026 Florida School Grades show that both Lee County and Collier County Public Schools are heading in the right direction.

Lee County’s Best Performance in 10 Years

Lee County School District earned its highest point total in a decade, strengthening its overall “B” district rating while posting impressive gains across the county.

Perhaps the biggest headline?

Not a single Lee County school earned a D or F.

That’s a milestone worth celebrating.

The district now boasts 24 “A” schools and 29 “B” schools, meaning nearly two-thirds of its traditional public schools are rated B or higher.

Several schools made remarkable improvements this year:

• Tortuga Preserve Elementary: D to B
• J. Colin English Elementary: C to A
• Hancock Creek Elementary: C to A
• San Carlos Park Elementary: C to A
• Gateway High School: Earned an A in just its sixth year
• Fort Myers High School: B to A
• Cypress Lake High School: B to A

Those aren’t small improvements—they represent thousands of students attending higher-performing schools.

Collier Keeps Raising the Bar

Meanwhile, Collier County Public Schools continued one of the most impressive streaks anywhere in Florida.

The district earned an “A” rating for the ninth consecutive year, placing it among only five Florida school districts to accomplish that feat.

Collier also ranked sixth out of Florida’s 67 school districts in total accountability points.

Even more impressive, 51 of 52 traditional public schools—98%—earned either an A or a B.

And just like Lee County…

Not one traditional public school received a D or F.

Seven schools improved enough to earn an A this year:

• Eden Park Elementary
• Everglades City School
• Golden Gate Elementary
• Herbert Cambridge Elementary
• Highlands Elementary
• Lake Trafford Elementary
• Village Oaks Elementary

Results Matter

None of this means every challenge facing public education has disappeared.

Parents and taxpayers will continue debating spending priorities, curriculum, school safety, discipline, transparency, and academic expectations. Those conversations aren’t going away—and they shouldn’t.

But it’s also important to acknowledge measurable success when it happens.

Higher school grades don’t happen by accident. They reflect the hard work of students, teachers, principals, support staff, and families who put in the effort every single day.

When local schools improve, property values benefit, businesses have a stronger workforce pipeline, families gain confidence in their communities, and taxpayers receive a better return on one of the largest investments government makes.

That’s good news no matter where you stand politically.

Congratulations to everyone in Lee County and Collier County Public Schools on a year of outstanding achievement. Keep the momentum going.