It's that time of year again! On Monday, students across Lee County are heading back to school, marking the official start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
With thousands of students returning to classrooms, parents and guardians are urged to prepare ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition from all of the summer time off.
If you're looking for Lee County school bell times, scroll to the bottom.
First Day Tips
Arrive Early: Expect heavy traffic around schools on Monday morning. Give yourself extra time to drop off your child. Check out the NBC2 Traffic Tracker.
Walking your child to class: Some schools allow you to walk your child to class. You must register and bring a proper photo ID. Contact your school directly if you have additional questions.
Stay Informed: Follow your child’s school on social media or check the school’s website for any last-minute updates. Click here and select your child's school for more.
Be Prepared: Make sure your child has everything they need for the first day, including school supplies, lunch/snacks, medication authorization forms or other required forms.
Updated Information
: Ensure your emergency contact list is up-to-date. Also, remember to add everyone who may pick up your child to the school's list.
Car Line: Florida law prohibits the use of any kind of wireless device (phones) in car lines or in school zones.
Bus Transportation
For families relying on bus transportation, it’s crucial to double-check your child’s bus stop and pick-up time. The Lee County School District offers an app called Where’s the Bus , that allows parents to track the bus in real-time. The app is available on both Android and iOS devices. Find more information on bussing on the district's transportation page .
Back-to-School Weather Forecast
Another scorcher in Southwest Florida is expected. On Monday, easterly winds will kick in, leading to a quick round of isolated storms along the coast from around noon through the mid-afternoon. Through the early evening, those storms will push farther inland and become more scattered. As those storms build they will likely be slow moving and as they collapse mid to late evening we may see some storms push back to the coast.
If you are caught in a shower or thunderstorm, you will see some relief in the high heat indices. However, it will remain very muggy. Areas that stay out of the storms will still see triple-digit feels-like temperatures. See more weather from our NBC2 First Alert meteorologists .
What to wear
If you're looking to wear something cooler to help beat the heat, check out your school's dress code policy . If a student is participating in after-school activities, extra clothes and a water bottle for hydration may be a good idea.
What's for Breakfast/Lunch?
Lee County students receive free Lunch through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. See what's on the menu today and every day with Meal Viewer .
Safety and Security
The Lee County School District has implemented several safety measures in recent years, including enhanced security protocols. Parents can familiarize themselves with these measures by visiting the School Safety section of the district’s website.
You can also sign up for
SchoolMessenger is an app
that allows the district and schools to send you important messages, emergency broadcasts, attendance alerts and event reminders. You can also sign up via text by texting the word
yes
to
67587
.
Plan the school year
You will find the 2024-25 Academic School Year Calendar here. Add the important dates, half-days and holidays in your phone so you never get caught off guard.
Bell Times
Elementary Schools
7:55 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.
- Amanecer Elementary
- Bayshore Elementary
- Caloosa Elementary
- Cape Elementary
- Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary
- Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts
- Fort Myers Beach Elementary
- G. Weaver Hipps Elementary
- Hancock Creek Elementary
- Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. Elementary
- Heights Elementary
- Pelican Elementary
- Pinewoods Elementary
- San Carlos Park Elementary
- Skyline Elementary
- Tanglewood Elementary
- Three Oaks Elementary
- Tortuga Preserve Elementary
- Trafalgar Elementary
- Villas Elementary
7:55 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Colonial Elementary
- Edgewood Academy
- Franklin Park Elementary
- James Stephens Elementary
- Manatee Elementary
- Mirror Lakes Elementary
- Tice Elementary
8:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
- Allen Park Elementary
- Bonita Springs Elementary
- Diplomat Elementary
- Gateway Elementary
- Gulf Elementary
- Harns Marsh Elementary
- J. Colin English Elementary
- Lehigh Elementary
- Orangewood Elementary
- Patriot Elementary
- Pine Island Elementary
- Rayma C. Page Elementary
- River Hall Elementary
- Spring Creek Elementary
- Sunshine Elementary
- Treeline Elementary
- Tropic Isles Elementary
8:55 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Orange River Elementary
- Ray V. Pottorf Elementary
Combination Schools (K-8)
7:55 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.
- North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
- The Alva School
- The Sanibel School
- Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
Middle Schools
9:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts
- Caloosa Middle
- Challenger Middle
- Cypress Lake Middle
- Diplomat Middle
- Fort Myers Middle Academy
- Gulf Middle
- Harns Marsh Middle
- Lehigh Acres Middle
- Lemuel Teal Middle
- Lexington Middle
- Mariner Middle
- Oak Hammock Middle
- Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle
- Three Oaks Middle
- Trafalgar Middle
- Varsity Lakes Middle
High Schools
7:05 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.
- Bonita Springs High
- Cape Coral High
- Cypress Lake High
- Dunbar High
- East Lee County High
- Estero High
- Fort Myers High
- Gateway High
- Ida S. Baker High
- Island Coast High
- Lehigh Senior High
- Mariner High
- North Fort Myers High
- Riverdale High
- South Fort Myers High
Special Centers
7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Royal Palm Exceptional Center
8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Cape Coral Technical College
- Fort Myers Technical College
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Lee Virtual Instruction Program
8:40 a.m. to 2:54 p.m.
- Young Parent Education Program
8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
- Buckingham Exceptional Student Center
9:35 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
- Success Academy
Early Childhood Learning Center
- Head Start School Hours: 8:55 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Infant & Toddler School Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Stay connected with NBC-2 for the latest news that matters to you throughout the school year.