Public Education

Powering Our Future in 2026

Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) is shaping future leaders and workforce development in Southwest Florida. From career-ready programs to modern facilities, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to preparing students while supporting our region’s economic growth.

New Course Offerings and Career Training Opportunities

CCPS is widening career exploration and helping prepare students to meet local workforce needs. CCPS is now offering a dual enrollment opportunity for the growing sector of medical devices. In partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Arthrex, CCPS is offering a Medical Device Industry course on the campus of Aubrey Rogers High School. Similar to the Aviation Academy at Lely High School, this program is open to all CCPS high school students. Building on the success of this innovative course, CCPS anticipates growing interest in 2026 from students across the district.

CCPS has been working to expand Career Dual Enrollment (CDE) options to all our high school students. This allows students to remain enrolled at their home high school and spend part of the day training at one of the technical college campuses operated by CCPS.  The following are the projected career dual enrollment numbers for School Year 2026-27:

• 300 spots for Lorenzo Walker Technical High School (LWTH) students to attend Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC)

• 165 spots for students in the remaining Naples-area high schools to attend LWTC

• 300 spots for students to attend Immokalee Technical College (iTECH)

• CCPS also plans to launch a new avionics program at LWTC that will accept career dual-enrollment students

Facilities Expansion and Improvements

The District School Board of Collier County is building a state-of-the-art elementary school in the master-planned community of Ave Maria. Scheduled to open in August 2026, Ave Maria Elementary, led by Principal Bev Budzynski, will proudly welcome students as the home of the Cardinals. This will be the 33rd elementary school operated by CCPS, and construction is being funded without incurring additional debt, thanks in large part to the district’s foresight in acquiring the property back in 2008. Additionally, it is designed and built to serve the community as a storm shelter.  Ave Maria Elementary is being built to serve 900 students, and we anticipate building a future middle school on the 46-acre site.

Speaking of facilities, CCPS is in the process of converting all high school baseball and softball fields to synthetic turf, and the work should be completed in the next two years. The benefits of synthetic turf include durability and consistent play, weather resistance, lower maintenance, cost efficiency over the lifecycle, a safer surface for students, extended usability, and aesthetic appeal.     

Another new project on the horizon is a CCPS Transportation Facility in Golden Gate Estates to accommodate growth in that part of Collier County. The transportation compound will be located at the corner of Immokalee Road and 47 Avenue Northeast.

A-rating for Accountability

Student assessments in the late spring will determine school and district grades. Collier County Public Schools is the only school district in southwest Florida to earn an “A” rating this past school year and will be aiming to continue the A-rated streak that began in 2017. Look ahead to the summer of 2026 for the updated school and district grades. Florida’s Department of Education uses a universal accountability model to evaluate all public schools and districts. This model is grounded in state law and applies the same standards across the state, from small rural districts to large urban ones. That grade is based on a comprehensive formula that includes up to 12 components measuring student achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, and acceleration, which includes college and career readiness.

Every new course, every upgraded facility, and every earned ‘A’ grade reflects a simple truth: public education is the foundation of opportunity. Together, we are building a future where every student can thrive.