Educational Resources

Collier County Public Schools: The School District of Collier County serves nearly 45,000 total students in 29 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 8 high schools, and a PreK-thru-12 school (Everglades City School). There are also 12 Alternative School Programs. The district’s two career/technical centers (Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology and Immokalee Technical Center) and adult education programs (located at several sites throughout the district) offer students both short- and long-term programs. The District employs approximately 3,200 highly qualified teachers, 49% with advanced degrees.

Entrepreneurship Program: Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) first implemented its Entrepreneurship Program in 2013. Now, with two successful years under way, the program is undergoing an enhancement. Collier County is filled with phenomenal supporters who are always working to help our schools.

NAF Academy: NAF Academies are part of a national network, provide theme-based curriculum at each grade level and are designed to impact students’ post-graduation plans and opportunities for life success!  In doing such, they are formed around five career industries with strong employment opportunities and growth. Academies in Collier County include Aviation Technologies, PLTW Engineering, Finance, Health Sciences, Hospitality & Tourism and Information Technologies

Work-Based Learning Experiences: These provide students with the opportunity to gain practical work experience through a company work-based internship or job-shadowing. Companies can also mentor students, appear as guest speakers, provide teacher externships and more.

• Florida Southwestern State College
  Florida Southwestern State College offers 26 degrees as well as certificates for other fields of study with over 16,000 students across campuses in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades Counties.  It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
• Florida Gulf Coast University
  Florida Gulf Coast University is a state university that opened its doors to students in 1997 and is located just north of Collier County. It has over 15,000 students and offers 58 undergraduate programs, 25 masters programs, one specialist program, and six doctoral degree programs.  FGCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  In addition, the university has specialized accreditation for business, engineering, education, health care, resort and hospitality, and social work.
  – Eagle Networks (fgcu.edu)
  – Director of Internships & Cooperative Programs: Ashleigh Droz adroz@fgcu.edu
  – Lutgert College of Business: Tifarah Pardue tpardue@fgcu.edu
• Ave Maria University
  Ave Maria University is an accredited Catholic university that has 34 major programs, 28 minor programs, two graduate programs, and 15 different men’s and women’s sports with approximately 900 students.  Ave Maria University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees.  A sister institution is the Ave Maria School of Law, which is fully accredited by the American Bar Association with a student body of nearly 500 that is drawn from almost every state and several other nations. – https://www.careerservices.avemaria.edu/
  – Director of Career Service: Jonathan Spadaccini  John.Spadaccini@avemaria.edu
• ​​Hodges University
  Hodges University offers associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and graduate degrees with the student population of 1,723 (1,487 undergraduate). Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. Hodges University has received specialized accreditation for its business and business-related programs through International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
  – Director of Career Services: Madelyn A Pfingsten  mpfingsten@hodges.edu
• Lorenzo Walker Technical College
  LWTC is a part of the School Board of Collier County. LWTC is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. In addition, it has accreditations with other industry specific organizations and affiliations with state and national associations. The mission of Lorenzo Walker Technical College is to provide rigorous and relevant educational experiences that prepare all students with the academic, technical and employability skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers and in further postsecondary education as desired.
• Immokalee Technical College
  The mission of iTECH is to provide rigorous and relevant real-world educational experiences using both traditional and distance learning models in order to qualify students for employment and career advancement.
• Center for Manufacturing Excellence
  ​The Center for Manufacturing Excellence is a cutting-edge training facility established to deliver the knowledge and skills students need for a successful career in today’s manufacturing field. CME is a collaborative training facility between Collier County Public Schools, the Naples Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturing leaders. CME was established through the demand to supply local industries with skilled workers in all areas within the manufacturing field, such as Machining, Mechatronics, CNC operations, and advanced machining and manufacturing. Currently, CME offers a full-time Post-Secondary Machining Technology course, short-term targeted training, employability skills, and customized training developed to enhance the skills of current or potential employees.