Charlotte, FL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Charlotte

Charlotte County Public Schools is a mid-sized Florida district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across a coastal southwest Florida area anchored by Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and Englewood, with the newer Babcock Ranch community adding a distinct pocket of growth on the district's eastern edge.

The district's school footprint is varied. Families have access to traditional neighborhood elementary, middle, and high schools alongside Charlotte Technical College, two virtual instruction options, a specialized alternative program called The Academy, Charlotte Harbor School, and the publicly reported Babcock Neighborhood School and Babcock High School, which operate as public charters on the Babcock Ranch campus with a project-based, greenSTEAM model. That charter option draws enrollment preference for Charlotte County and Babcock Ranch residents. The presence of Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School also signals a dual-enrollment pathway for students seeking college-credit coursework before graduation.

On state assessments using Florida's FAST and Statewide Science assessments for the most recent school year, the district's reading proficiency is strongest in the early grades and softens as students move through middle school, following a downward arc that is visible grade by grade. Math proficiency follows a similar pattern, holding in solid territory in the lower elementary grades before declining noticeably through the middle school years, particularly by eighth grade. Science proficiency at both tested grade levels sits at roughly the halfway mark. Taken together, the results suggest meaningful academic support is reaching younger students but that the middle school years represent a gap worth asking school-level staff about directly. Publicly reported, the district earned a B rating from the Florida Department of Education for 2024-25, described as its highest rating in over a decade, with a majority of schools rated A or B and no schools in the lowest tiers. Graduation rate data was not available in the data provided.

Economically, a substantial share of the district's enrollment context is shaped by its community. Free- and reduced-price lunch rates were not available in this data. Race and ethnicity data shows the district as predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest group, followed by Black students, students of two or more races, and smaller shares of other groups.

Housing in Charlotte County has undergone a notable correction from recent highs. Home values across the district's zip codes have declined meaningfully over the past year, more sharply than the statewide average and well above the national trend in terms of the size of the pullback. The entry points range widely, from more affordable corners of Port Charlotte to significantly more expensive waterfront or planned-community areas. Rental rates across most of the county have stayed relatively flat or ticked slightly upward, with some variation by neighborhood. The price-to-income ratio puts homebuying here within reach for many buyers by national standards, though affordability depends heavily on which community a family targets. Punta Gorda's waterfront zip codes carry values well above the county norm, while inland Port Charlotte zip codes remain more accessible.

The district is funded in part by a voter-approved one-mill property tax that runs through mid-2027 and covers teacher salaries, school security, arts programming, and other classroom needs the state formula does not fully support. Publicly reported, that levy is expected to return to the ballot in November 2026, meaning families considering a long-term move should watch whether it is renewed, as its expiration would affect staffing and programs.

Hurricane Ian's damage to district facilities remains an unresolved capital issue. Port Charlotte Middle School sustained significant damage and the long-term rebuild plan, including cost and timeline, was still being weighed publicly as of recent reporting. Families zoned for that school may want to ask the district directly about its current facility status and plans.

The comparison data available does not place Charlotte County against other districts in a meaningful way, as it is the only district in Charlotte County, so relative positioning among county peers is not applicable here.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

16,864

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 19%

Black 8%

White 65%

Asian 2%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

54%

67%

Gr 4

49%

62%

Gr 5

50%

64%

Gr 6

52%

63%

Gr 7

51%

58%

Gr 8

47%

58%

Math

Gr 3

64%

73%

Gr 4

59%

68%

Gr 5

50%

63%

Gr 6

55%

60%

Gr 7

55%

64%

Gr 8

43%

52%

Science

Gr 5

46%

58%

Gr 8

45%

55%

Schools in this District

25 schools are officially reported under this district.

SALLIE JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL

PEACE RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LEMON BAY HIGH SCHOOL

BAKER/HEAD START

EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NEIL ARMSTRONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PUNTA GORDA MIDDLE SCHOOL

PORT CHARLOTTE MIDDLE SCHOOL

MEADOW PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CHARLOTTE HARBOR SCHOOL

CHARLOTTE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

PORT CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL

L. A. AINGER MIDDLE SCHOOL

VINELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MURDOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL

MYAKKA RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DEEP CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KINGSWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL

CHARLOTTE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM

CHARLOTTE VIRTUAL FRANCHISE

THE ACADEMY

BABCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

68%

Grade 3

63%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

57%

Grade 6

60%

Grade 7

47%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

56%

Grade 4

57%

Grade 5

57%

Grade 6

54%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

52%

Grade 5

50%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$347,422

Year-over-year change-9.8%

Range across 17 ZIP codes$218K to $2.3M

vs. state typical0.92x

vs. national typical0.94x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (17 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
33982	Punta Gorda	$360K	-9.7%	60.4%
33955	Punta Gorda	$331K	-9.7%	11.5%
33981	Port Charlotte	$339K	-10.2%	6.8%
33917	North Fort Myers	$294K	-6.6%	2.7%
33950	Punta Gorda	$368K	-14.3%	2.7%
33953	Port Charlotte	$311K	-9.8%	2.4%
33947	Rotonda West	$344K	-11.1%	2.0%
33948	Port Charlotte	$264K	-9.5%	1.9%
34224	Englewood	$281K	-12.4%	1.8%
33952	Port Charlotte	$218K	-10.9%	1.6%

Showing top 10 of 17 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,492/mo

Year-over-year change+2.6%

Range across 14 ZIP codes$1,584 to $3,451/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (14 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
33982	Punta Gorda	$2,509	+3.3%	60.4%
33955	Punta Gorda	$3,451	—	11.5%
33981	Port Charlotte	$2,259	+7.0%	6.8%
33917	North Fort Myers	$1,973	-3.5%	2.7%
33950	Punta Gorda	$2,294	+5.1%	2.7%
33953	Port Charlotte	$1,584	-10.8%	2.4%
33947	Rotonda West	$2,321	+2.7%	2.0%
33948	Port Charlotte	$1,956	-1.6%	1.9%
34224	Englewood	$1,883	+6.3%	1.8%
33952	Port Charlotte	$1,676	-1.0%	1.6%
33983	Punta Gorda	$1,848	-0.9%	1.6%
33980	Port Charlotte	$2,163	-3.4%	1.4%
33954	Port Charlotte	$1,786	-6.0%	1.3%
34223	Englewood	$1,889	+7.2%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,753/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

Annual rent / national median income35.7%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$739/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$376,504 (-3.7% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.