How to Choose a Private School in Fort Myers

Lee County families have a wide range of private schools to consider, from faith-based schools to independent ones, and from schools that serve the elementary and middle school years to those that run through twelfth grade. The schools that turn up when you search for the best private schools in Fort Myers can be very different places once you walk through the door, so this guide covers what to look for, what to ask on a tour, and how to compare what you saw.

What to look for in a private school in Fort Myers

The things that shape a child's day are specific, and four of them are worth looking at first: whether an outside body has checked the school's work, how lessons are taught, how many children share the room, and who's teaching.

Accreditation

Private schools in Florida aren't required to be accredited, so a school that holds accreditation has chosen to have its curriculum, teaching and operations reviewed by an outside organization on a regular cycle. Ask each school which organizations accredit it and when its last review took place, then confirm the answer on the accreditor's own website.

Curriculum and how it's taught

Two schools can list the same subjects and teach them in very different ways. Ask what curriculum the school uses for reading and math, how teachers know when a child needs more challenge or more support, and how much of the day is spent on projects, labs and discussion. If you're looking at a private elementary school in Fort Myers, ask how reading is taught in the early grades, and if you're looking at a private middle school, ask how the program prepares students for high school.

Class sizes

Small class sizes matter because of what they make possible: a teacher who notices when a quiet child is stuck, has time to give real feedback on writing, and knows each family. Instead of relying on a figure in a brochure, look into the classrooms during your tour and ask how the school decides when a class is full.

Teachers

Ask how long teachers tend to stay, what training they receive each year, and how they keep in touch with parents. A school where teachers stay for many years is usually one where they're well supported, and children benefit from that stability.

What does the school offer beyond academics?

The elementary and middle school years are when children learn how to work with other people, handle disappointment and take responsibility for their own work. Ask each school how it teaches those skills, since some use a named character or social-emotional program with lessons built into the week and others handle it more informally.

Then look at what's offered outside the core subjects, because art, music, performing arts, physical education, world languages, athletics and clubs give children more ways to find something they're good at. Ask which of these every student takes as part of the school day and which are optional or offered after school.

Before and after care, and the commute from Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Estero

A school can be a strong fit on paper and still be hard on a family if the logistics don't work. Ask what time the campus opens for drop-off, whether care is offered before and after school, and how late it runs.

Then drive the route at the time you'd really be driving it. Families coming from Cape Coral cross the Caloosahatchee at the busiest hour of the morning, and families coming from Estero or south Fort Myers rely on US 41 or I-75, so a school that looks close on a map can feel very different at 7:45 on a weekday.

Questions to ask on a private school tour

A tour is the best chance you'll have to see whether a school matches its website. Bring the same list to every school so that you can compare the answers afterward.

• Which organizations accredit the school, and when was the last review?
• What curriculum do you use for reading and math, and how do you support a child who's ahead or behind?
• How do you decide when a class is full?
• How long have the teachers in my child's grade been at the school?
• How is character or social-emotional learning taught, and how often?
• Which arts, athletics and clubs are part of the school day, and which are after school?
• What time can I drop off, and how late does after-school care run?
• How will I hear from my child's teacher, and how often?
• Where do your students go after their final year here?

While you're walking, notice whether students seem comfortable talking with adults, what's on the walls, and how teachers speak to children in the hallway.

How to compare private schools after your tours

Write your notes the same day, while the details are fresh, and use the same headings for every school: accreditation, teaching, class sizes, teachers, character, activities, care and commute.

Then rank those headings for your own family, because a child who needs more challenge, a child who needs more confidence and a child who lives for sports may each belong at a different school. That's why there isn't one answer to which private school in Fort Myers is best, and if two schools are close, it's worth going back for a second visit with your child.

How Crestwell School approaches these questions

Crestwell School is an independent, non-religious private school in Fort Myers for students in PreK through 8th grade, and it's a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Here's how we'd answer the questions in this guide.

Accreditation

Crestwell School is accredited by MSA-CESS, Cognia and NCPSA, and is a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISFL). Our accreditation page explains each one.

Teaching

Our motto is "Learning by Doing," and it shapes how we teach: the elementary program uses a research-based curriculum with specials that include STEAM, art, music, PE and Spanish, and our STEM program runs from PreK through the middle school grades in a dedicated STEM lab.

Class sizes and teachers

We keep small class sizes so that every child is known by name. The average staff member has been at Crestwell for 5 years or longer.

Character

Character education is taught through The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Students from PreK through 8th grade, and students who represent those habits are recognized each month at a Character Awards Ceremony.

Arts, athletics and clubs

Visual and performing arts run from PreK through 8th grade and every student takes PE. Gators athletics offers sports programs for grades 1 through 8, and students can choose from more than 15 clubs and organizations.

Before and after care

The school opens at 7:30 AM for morning drop-off, and extended care runs after school until 6:00 PM. Afterschool enrichment clubs are offered as well.

Location

Our campus is at 1901 Park Meadows Drive in Fort Myers.

Frequently asked questions