Education began in Everglades City in 1893 with the construction of its first one-room schoolhouse.  Like many other buildings in the area the school was subject to hurricanes and was destroyed more than once over the years and then rebuilt.
The school still operates today serving 178 students as of 2015 with classes from kindergarten through 12 grade and includes Chokoloskee’s high school students as well.
Today the school has 22 teachers which equates to around 8 students per staff member as the latest enrollment is up to 187.  It is a fairly poor community where around 66% of the student population are considered disadvantaged.  The 24% minority rate consists of Indians, black, Hispanics and Hawaiians.  Despite these statistics the school boasts a 91% graduation rate which far surpasses student graduation rates in many metropolitan areas.
With such a low student-teacher ratio parents give the school high marks for all the special attention their children receive.  The school was called by one parent Collier education’s system best kept secret.
The school is just one of seven schools in the Collier County system and one of its oldest.