School Zones

Student sitting with backpack against a tree

Elementary School Proximity Zones

The School District of Lee County (SDLC) worked to develop a new elementary student assignment system. Throughout the process, the SDLC was committed to better addressing system issues (student distribution, transportation, etc.) for the benefit of our students, families, and community.

The new elementary assignment begins for the 2023-24 School Year.

Transportation to Day Care Facilities

For the 2023-2024 school year, the District will adhere to School Board Policy 8600 and not route stops to any after care facility. However, there is a possibility that an established stop on an established route may be near a daycare. In this case, students, in theory, could ride that bus to the after-school program if these four conditions are met:

  1. The request is for a permanent, everyday basis.
  2. There is an established route and stop in existence that shall fulfill the request.
  3. The parent/guardian understands that requests shall be granted on a space available basis and permission may be revoked at a later date.
  4. Requests for this alternate school transportation must be submitted in writing to the principal for approval. As another alternative, all elementary schools are offering before and after school care at a uniform cost across the District.

Please contact your child’s school to sign up or learn more. Our priority is getting students to school on time so they do not miss any instructional time. We can no longer do that and provide courtesy busing. There is also no requirement that we provide courtesy busing but we do encourage and welcome after school care facilities to provide their own transportation and use our schools to pick students up.

Middle and High School Zones

To provide parents and guardians with school options with increased opportunities to attend schools closer to their homes, allow diverse school enrollments, and to help the District manage transportation more effectively, the Student Enrollment Plan relies on sub-zones within each of the three choice zones for Middle and High School enrollments.  

  • Families living in sub-zone 1 will be able to rank schools physically located in sub-zone 1 and sub-zone 2 and zone magnet schools if any.
  • Families living within sub-zone 2 will be able to rank schools physically located within the full choice zone.
  • Families living in sub-zone 3 will be able to rank schools physically located in sub-zone 3 and sub-zone 2 and zone magnet schools if any. 

Barrier Island Schools

Schools located on the barrier islands (e.g., Sanibel Island, Pine Island and Estero Island) are not considered part of any choice zone. Students residing in the attendance areas for these schools do not participate in the student enrollment process as long as they are at an appropriate grade level to attend those schools. However, students on the barrier islands may apply for zone and multi-zone magnet schools.

Waivers to attend Fort Myers Beach Elementary and The Sanibel School may be accessed by contacting [email protected] or contacting the school.