Lenora Braynon Smith Elementary

Lenora Braynon Smith Elementary is a public school in Miami, FL, serving 353 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Miami-Dade district, where 66% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most important thing for parents to know is that this school has a severe chronic absenteeism problem—nearly 40% of students are chronically absent, which is far worse than nearby schools like Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary (25.8%) and Mater Academy Of International Studies (17.3%). This attendance crisis is likely the biggest barrier to academic success. On the positive side, the school showed a remarkable improvement in the most recent school year, jumping from the 5th percentile to the 14th percentile in state rankings. For example, 3rd grade reading proficiency rose from 38% to 54%, and 3rd grade math reached 50% proficiency—close to state averages. However, these gains are inconsistent: 4th graders at the same school scored only 31% in reading, suggesting that strong performance in one grade doesn't always carry forward.

Interestingly, the school spends $14,718 per student, which is more than Mater Academy Of International Studies ($9,952) yet achieves lower results, indicating that funding alone isn't the issue. Nearby Charles R. Drew K-8 Center offers a contrasting story: its elementary grades struggle similarly, but its middle school students achieve exceptional scores (86% in Algebra 1). For parents, the key takeaway is that Lenora Braynon Smith is a school in transition with recent signs of improvement, but tackling attendance and ensuring consistent instruction across all grades will be critical for sustained progress.