Elementary Education Excellence

Pity the poor children of Sanibel island. Children in grades K-8 attend school amidst the lush beauty and exotic wildlife for which Sanibel is well-known. The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is right outside the back door, providing students with a unique opportunity to learn about ecology in their own backyard. And, while the school is surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the attitude inside the school is far from a "life's a beach" mantra. In fact, the Sanibel School is widely recognized as one of the best elementary schools in the state of Florida. Students consistently outperform state and even national schools across a wide range of subjects.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Education selected the Sanibel School as a "Blue Ribbon School," the highest honor an American school can receive. The school attributes its success to combining a challenging curriculum with an active community and strong parent/teacher organization. The school's Web site notes, "Teachers and staff work very hard to create an atmosphere that encourages children to discover their individual interests in a safe and supportive atmosphere." Not surprisingly, one of the school's crowning achievements is its emphasis on environmental education.

Starting in Kindergarten, Sanibel students are active participants in numerous walking and biking tours to observe plant and animal life up close. They research environmental issues related to the islands, plant native vegetation, and serve as volunteers at many island functions. In support of this continuing objective, members of the Ding Darling Wildlife Society recently announced plans to build a 200-foot boardwalk from their trail to the school. The idea is for students to explore nature as they walk to the refuge, learning about the fresh water system that is an integral part of the trail.

Students also participate in other community-led programs sponsored by the City of Sanibel, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and the Sanibel Shell Club. This special community/school relationship extends to a number of recreational programs. New students who can't swim receive free swimming lessons in the city pool during school hours. Sanibel Recreation also runs summer camps for a small fee with free after-school programs.

The school's approximately 400 students are the children of families who live on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Parents who work on the island but live on the mainland can also apply for a waiver for their children to attend. Each grade includes 40 - 50 total students with a student/teacher ratio of 1:17.