LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lee County School District was expected to announce its student assignments for the 2023-2024 school year, but it was delayed.
The delay impacted mostly students transitioning into Kindergarten, and impacted students transitioning into middle and high school.
The School District has now announced that the results are now available through your FOCUS Parent Portal.
Along with the announcement that student results are now available they also released a statement.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier apologizes for the delay in getting the school choice assignments out and the inconvenience and frustration to those who were eagerly waiting for them.
We experienced some unforeseen circumstances that caused the delay, but Dr. Bernier is pleased to report that the results are now available.
Elle Smith said her son will be making the move to middle school after the summer and the delay created frustrations.
“I just don't know where…what to expect,” said Smith.
Smith said she has already visited several schools and turned in her preferred schools to the school district.
“Which side of town? Do we have uniforms? Do we not have uniforms? What's the start time?" all questions Smith said she wanted to be answered.
On Monday, Rob Spicker, a spokesperson for the school district didn't give an exact date but said the assignments will be released “well before school is out.”
That did turn out to be true with the assignments coming out a day later.
Spicker said the delay is caused because, "We are a growing school district and implemented proximity zones at the elementary level."
Proximity Zones assign students to schools based on how close they live to a certain school.
"Implementing proximity was delayed by the hurricane, so we only did elementary this year. Next year we will introduce proximity zones for middle schools. The student assignment process for high schools is currently not expected to change," said Spicker in an email to Fox 4.
The other concern Fox 4 heard from parents was for students who play sports, saying tryouts are quickly approaching.
Spicker said schools will adjust tryouts if they need to, and no student will try out before being assigned to a school.
