Standing inside Tortuga Preserve Elementary, a school that improved from a “D” to a “B” grade in a single year, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Superintendent Denise Carlin on Thursday pointed to Lee County’s rising school grades as evidence of academic momentum heading into the new school year.
The School District of Lee County earned 752 points on Florida’s accountability scale, its highest grade point total in a decade.
The press conference comes days before Lee County students return to classrooms Tuesday, Aug. 11.
According to the state’s 2025-26 school grades report, 29 Lee County schools improved their letter grade from the previous year, and no schools received a “D” or “F” for the first time in years.
Four schools improved by two letter grades, including Tortuga Preserve Elementary, which rose from a “D” to a “B.” J. Colin English Elementary, Hancock Creek Elementary and San Carlos Park Elementary each improved from a “C” to an “A.”
Principal Lisa Thomas said the school began the 2025-26 school year facing significant challenges, including several staff openings and state intervention due to its performance the year prior.
Thomas credited the school’s improvement to filling classrooms with qualified and certified teachers, support from the district and guidance from state school improvement teams that regularly visited campus, conducted walkthroughs and helped staff develop action plans. She said the school has since cleared all federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability subgroups and enters the new school year fully staffed.
“We are in a very different place than we started last year,” Thomas said. “I love my ‘B’, and I’m not giving it back. But we need proficiency. We need every student on grade level in math and reading.”
The district also reported its highest graduation rate on record at 89.8%, while traditional public high schools reached a 95.3% graduation rate.
“This past school year, we earned our highest point total in a decade,” Carlin said. “Twenty-nine of our schools improved a letter grade and several jumped two letter grades. We are so proud we have no ‘D’ and ‘F’ schools in this school district for the very first time in a long time.”
District officials credited several initiatives, including placing certified teachers in every classroom, offering up to $9,000 in incentive pay at high-need schools and critical subject areas, increasing instructional support and adding 30 minutes of instructional time at high schools.
Officials also pointed to transportation improvements that resulted in 98% of buses arriving on time and a bell-to-bell student cell phone ban designed to limit distractions.
“Our exceptional growth in student achievement is a victory shared by our entire community,” Superintendent Denise Carlin said in a press release. “This isn’t just a win for our school district; this is a win for Lee County.”
DeSantis used the event to celebrate statewide education improvements, including increases in school grades, student proficiency rates and graduation rates.
The governor credited Florida’s progress-monitoring testing system, school choice policies and teacher salary investments for helping improve student outcomes.
He said the state’s FAST testing system allows educators to identify struggling students earlier and provide support throughout the school year rather than relying on a single end-of-year exam. He also argued that expanded school choice has increased competition among schools and created more options for families.
DeSantis also pointed to state investments in teacher salaries, noting Florida has directed billions toward educator pay during his time as governor, including funding for both new and veteran teachers. He argued those policies have helped contribute to higher student achievement, school grades and graduation rates statewide.
“It’s been a job well done,” DeSantis said. “Those numbers don’t lie. You’ve seen the improvement. We’ve got a lot of momentum, and we want to continue it forward.”
Under Florida’s student-based funding model, state education dollars follow students, with districts receiving funding based on enrollment. As more families opt for private-school scholarships, charter schools and other education choices, some traditional public school districts have seen enrollment declines. Lee County officials have said that declining enrollment has contributed to budget pressures because revenue falls as students leave while many operating costs remain unchanged.
Lee County currently faces a projected $92.4 million structural operating deficit, which led to 457 non-renewals for budgetary reasons. To help offset the gap, the district plans to shift $45.4 million from capital funds to support general operations.
When asked about the sizable deficits, DeSantis pointed to the state’s universal school choice model as the long-term solution. He suggested that as performance improves, student enrollment — and the state funding that follows those students — will increase.
“Parents are going to make decisions; the population fluctuates. I think, as you continue to see improvement, you will end up gaining students — there’s no question about that — and more money will flow. I have no doubt about that. I can’t speak for the legislature. My view is, we’re going to make it work one way or another, but the choice that we’ve been able to get people has really been amazing,” DeSantis said.
The press conference also offered an introduction for Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack, who recently joined the administration after serving in the Trump administration. The State Board of Education unanimously appointed Mack to the position July 22.
During the press conference, he commended the collaboration between state and local education leaders and pointed to Lee County as an example of schools working together to improve student outcomes.
Students return to school Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The district is launching a new dual-enrollment partnership with the University of Florida that allows eligible high school students to earn college credit through UF courses. The district is also opening new and expanded campuses, including Hector A. Cafferata Jr. K-8 in Cape Coral and Green Meadow Elementary’s temporary campus in Lehigh Acres.
Families should also expect continued enforcement of school bus safety measures, including cameras mounted on district buses that fine $225 and capture video of drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. More than 25,000 citations were issued last school year, the district said.
Other policies remain unchanged. The district’s three-tier bell schedule will continue this year, and the bell-to-bell cell phone ban remains in effect for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Under the policy, phones must remain off and out of sight during the school day unless specifically authorized by school staff.
Carlin said the district’s next goal is clear: “I know what my challenge is: no C schools this year,” she said. “They told us before we couldn’t do it, and we’re going to do it.”
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 ormhannon@gannett.com.
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DeSantis celebrates Lee County school wins ahead of new school year – The News-Press
