Original Research by School Decision on Montura Early Learning Center
Montura Early Learning Center is a public prekindergarten program in Clewiston, serving children at the pre-K level only. Because it operates exclusively in early childhood grades, it falls outside the grade bands that Florida uses for state academic assessments, so there are no proficiency scores, testing trends, or graduation figures to report. That absence reflects the school's grade band, not a gap in performance data. No graduation rate applies for the same reason. Comparison metrics relative to districts in Hendry County were similarly not applicable for this school.
The school is small, with an enrollment that places it among the smallest pre-K settings in a rural county. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects Clewiston's economic reality as an agricultural community where the workforce is heavily tied to the sugarcane industry. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of white and multiracial students. Data on English learner and special education populations were not available in the records provided.
Clewiston itself is a small city on the southwestern shore of Lake Okeechobee. U.S. Sugar Corporation is the dominant employer, giving the local economy a narrow agricultural base. The community is described publicly as slow-paced and owner-occupied, with a compact downtown that functions more as a service hub than a commercial center. Outdoor life centers on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail atop the Herbert Hoover Dike and on lake fishing and boating. Residents report wishing for more dining and entertainment options. No fixed-route public transit was identified. The nearest major airport is a meaningful drive away.
The local housing market is worth noting for families considering a move. Home values here sit well below the Florida statewide benchmark, though prices rose meaningfully in a short span, pointing to tightening conditions. The county is actively planning relief: two new residential developments on land rezoned by U.S. Sugar are expected to add a substantial number of homes to east Clewiston. Local officials have framed part of this growth as a way to ease housing-cost pressure on teachers and other public sector workers, which gives families some context for what the community is navigating.
At the district level, Hendry County Schools is managing notable growth. The district ranks among the highest in Florida for student generation rate, drawing students from neighboring counties and beyond. In response, the school board approved impact fees on new residential construction, meaning families who build a new home in the county will pay a fee that funds school facilities. That cost is worth factoring into any relocation plan. The district also broke ground on a new LaBelle High School, a major construction project replacing a 1970s-era campus and targeting a 2027 opening. It will add career and technical education space, a large auditorium, and upgraded athletic facilities. For a family with children currently in pre-K at Montura, that long-term facilities investment is years away from being relevant to their child's schooling, but it signals where the district is putting capital.
A parent considering Montura Early Learning Center should reach out directly to the school for specifics on curriculum approach, classroom ratios, and services for English learners and children with IEPs, as those details were not available in the data reviewed here.
See more original research from School Decision →