Three Collier County schools have earned statewide recognition for helping students achieve academic success in supportive, challenging learning environments. Lavern Gaynor Elementary School, Palmetto Elementary School, and Manatee Elementary School in Naples were named 2026 Exceeding Expectations Award Schools.
The East Coast Technical Assistance Center presents the award to high-poverty Florida schools that demonstrate strong academic achievement while creating meaningful opportunities for every student to flourish.
Only 61 of Florida’s 3,437 public schools met the rigorous criteria for the 2026 honor.
What Is the Exceeding Expectations Award?
The Exceeding Expectations Award recognizes high-poverty schools that achieve exceptional academic results.
Schools are selected using several measures:
- Overall student achievement
- Academic growth
- Performance among Every Student Succeeds Act student subgroups
- The percentage of economically disadvantaged students
Each qualifying school also completes an application highlighting the strategies behind its success.
How Does Lavern Gaynor Elementary Empower Students?
At Lavern Gaynor Elementary School, students are active participants in their own learning journey.
Teachers work together to analyze student progress and adjust instruction. Students regularly track their attendance, grades, and assessment results using personal data dashboards.
With teacher guidance, students:
- Set goals
- Monitor their progress
- Celebrate growth
- Involve their families
- Connect daily choices with long-term success
This approach helps transform student mindset, engagement, and achievement.
How Does Palmetto Elementary Build Belonging?
At Palmetto Elementary School, success begins with strong relationships.
School leaders have intentionally built a culture where teachers collaborate, share ideas, and support one another. Open classrooms, staff leadership opportunities, and honest feedback strengthen connections among educators.
The school also has systems that help recruit and retain great teachers. This creates a positive environment that ultimately benefits every student in the classroom.
When educators feel supported, students do too.
How Does Manatee Elementary Set High Expectations?
At Manatee Elementary School, accountability, belief, and collaboration—known as the ABCs—have helped transform school culture and student outcomes.
Teachers use data not simply to measure performance but to identify opportunities for growth. This helps ensure instruction meets each student where they are.
The school has embraced the belief that every child is capable of success.
Manatee has created a learning environment where everyone shares responsibility for student achievement by:
- Establishing clear expectations
- Encouraging teamwork among staff
- Strengthening partnerships with families
- Building connections with the community
How Are the Schools Sharing Their Success?
Educators from all three Collier County schools presented at the 2026 Exceeding Expectations Conference in Orlando.
They shared the practices that have helped their students succeed. Their presentations gave other schools practical strategies that can be adapted to improve outcomes for children across Florida.
The principals and leadership teams from all three schools also were recognized during Collier County Public Schools’ July school board meeting.
What Does the Recognition Mean for Collier County Families?
The recognition represents more than an award. It reflects the dedication of teachers, school leaders, support staff, students, and parents who work together each day.
Their efforts create schools where children are encouraged to:
- Grow academically
- Build confidence
- Believe in their potential
The success of Lavern Gaynor, Palmetto, and Manatee elementary schools shows what can happen when schools focus on relationships, high expectations, and continuous improvement.
When schools and families work together, students and the entire community benefit.
Read more Collier County education news.