Schools in Naples Florida

 

Schools…as a mom, I know how important schools are when you’re deciding where to live, whether you’re relocating or it’s just a local move the schools are one of the most important decisions.

 

Hi I’m Kim Menkhorst and as a mom and luxury realtor here in Naples, I’ve decided to put together a video that helps explain our school systems a little better here in Collier County and the surrounding areas. I’ll cover what you need to know in order to make the best decisions for your family.

 

Here in Collier County we have A LOT of families for a small town. In the public school system alone, we have around 50,000 kids. 31 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and 9 high schools. Then there are 13 alternative schools, from private education to charter schools and virtual school programs, it’s hard to know which direction is best. 

 

First and foremost as a mom, I fully believe education is such a personal choice and what’s right for one family is not the same for others. So let’s break down your options.

 

Let’s start with the most exciting thing. The NEW high school in North Naples that will be open fall of 2023. Its Aubrey Rogers High school named after the county sheriff who served 13 years. Collier county hasn’t had a new high school in 19 years. It’s a $97 million project set on 60 acres and located off Veterans Memorial Blvd in between livingston road and 41. It is a state of the art facility that will hold over 1800 kids and almost 300,000 sq ft. It will have 

 

46 Learning Studios
6 Skill Labs
6 Resource Rooms
5 Academies
4 Science Labs
6 Science Demo Labs
JROTC
2 Art Labs / 2 Music Classrooms
A Wellness & Auxiliary Gym
Student Union / Media Center
Auditorium that seats 1,350 people 

 

Here in Collier county, the location of your home is where you’re zoned for school. In Lee County, it’s school choice. Where you can choose your preferred school but depending on where you live you you might have to provide your own transportation 

 

In Collier county If you aren’t in your desired school zone they do allow out of zone exceptions HOWEVER it has to be based on where you work, or a reason why you need to be out of zone and you usually don’t find out if you’re accepted until a week before school starts which can be stressful. The good news is once your child is accepted out of zone then they are able to attend the same school during the duration. So for example if you’re accepted in kindergarten then you are all set until the end of 5th grade, you do not have to reapply every year. 

 

What’s interesting is that some elementary & middles schools have uniforms while others don’t. For the majority of schools it’s mostly just adhearinf to dress code rules but there are schools like Vineyards elementary and North Naples middles school that require uniforms at public school and you can find all that info for specific schools on their individual websites. 

 

 If you’re looking for a smaller school, or schools that align with your priorities and family goals, there are many private school options in our area   Here are some of the most popular,. 

 

Community School

First Baptist Academy

Naples Christian Academy

Royal Palm Academy

St Elizabeth Seaton 

The Village School

 

Charter schools are free, they are public schools that operate under a performance contract, or a “charter” which frees them from many regulations created for traditional public schools, they have separate board of directors so can be more flexible with curriculum. However the state still holds them accountable for academic and financial results. The kids wear uniforms 

 

A few of the local Charter schools to mention are:

 

Mason classical Academy

Naples classical Academy

Gulf Coast charter Academy

 

All are based on a lottery system so if you’re interested in charter school options check out their specific websites for when they lottery systems open up. Most have wait lists so it’s best to get on their lists or tour the schools as soon as possible. 

 

There is even a really large population of homeschool / unschooling families in the area. There are local meetups and field trips to get involved with if this is the route your family has chosen for your kids. And finally  Florida offers State online schools and resources for doing virtual schooling. 

 

You can find a copy of the current school zone maps at zones.collierschools.com

 

Also be sure to check out niche.com for school ratings, reviews, and specific information about the area you’re looking into. 

 

If you’re new to the area and would like a copy of my Relocation guide, comment below and I’ll email you a copy. It’s jam packed with everything you need to know about the area, culture, locations, restrictions and everything else. You can also watch my other YouTube videos about the area to get better acquainted. 

 

Thanks for watching today’s video all about schools here in Naples Florida. Be sure to like, subscribe and share this video. I’ll continue to update you on the progress of the newest North Naples high school AND the upcoming changes to the school zones expected summer of 2023. 

Be sure to like, share & subscribe to my channel here as well as my newsletter on my homepage. I’ll see you soon!

See more episodes here

___

Kim Menkhorst, Premiere Plus Realty 239.776.0093

Let’s Connect:

Insta: @lavishlivingnaplesfl

FB: @lavishlistingsnaples

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kimmenkhorst