Lee County Schools To Limit Choice Options, Affecting 1,316 High School Students

Lee County School District will restrict school choice to reduce bus ride times. This decision affects 1,316 high school students out of 30,427. The board reviewed a transportation plan this week that tackles students boarding buses before 4 a.m. and enduring rides stretching past two hours.

The proposed solution applies a 90% attendance threshold in subzones for bus services. When 90% or more of a school's enrollment comes from two subzones, only those areas receive buses. Barrier islands are exempt.

"We recognize that causes a real challenge from a choice and transportation standpoint," Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said, according to Cape Coral Breeze. "That's a very limited resource that we expand in that effort."

The plan displaces 292 students in the West Zone at Cape Coral High School, Ida S. Baker High School, Island Coast High School, Mariner High School, and North Fort Myers High School.

Families currently choose from an average of 4.1 high schools within their assigned and adjacent subzones. Current zones span 169 square miles in the West Zone, 287 in the East Zone, and 282 in the South Zone. Average bus rides exceed 90 minutes.

The district examined four transportation zone approaches. The most drastic option would have redrawn boundaries and reassigned more than half of all students to new schools. The second approach would have displaced 35.3% of students.

Cape Coral High School and Ida S. Baker High School reached the 96% threshold, so buses will serve only subzones W2 and W3. Island Coast, North Fort Myers, and Mariner will continue receiving buses across all three West Zone subzones.

"Students may continue to apply for and attend any eligible program," Capital Planning Assistant Director Dr. Adam Molloy said. "If that choice falls outside of the subzone, the district will no longer provide transportation."

Board member Debbie Jordan questioned how the plan impacts certain areas. "This is a hard sell," she said. "There are certain schools more affected than others in certain areas of the community."

Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the district will keep working to improve the transportation program while meeting requirements. "The children are well cared for and not on the bus at an unreasonable hour," Carlin said.

Families affected will receive notice about four months before changes take effect next school year. The plan applies only to the upcoming year and does not create a binding long-term enrollment policy.