Summary
Santa Clara Elementary School is a public PK-5 school in Miami, FL, serving 532 students in the Miami-Dade district, where about 51% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has historically been low-performing, ranking in the bottom 10-25% of Florida elementary schools over the past decade, with a recent slight improvement to the 17th percentile in 2025-2026. A major challenge is its exceptionally high chronic absenteeism rate, which has consistently exceeded 30%—in 2023-2024, it was 34.7%, far above the district and state averages. This is a systemic issue in the area, with nearby schools like Paul Laurence Dunbar K-8 Center (40.3%) and Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School (52.8%) also facing high absenteeism, though it is dramatically lower at the nearby Mater Academy Of International Studies (17.3%).
Academically, Santa Clara struggles significantly in English Language Arts (ELA), with only 30% of 3rd graders and 35% of 4th graders proficient in 2025-2026—roughly half the district average (64%). This is much lower than nearby schools like Mater Academy Of International Studies (57% in 3rd grade) and Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School (49% in 3rd grade). However, there is a relative strength in 5th grade science, where 54% of students were proficient, close to the district (59%) and state (60%) averages. Math scores, while still below average, are comparatively stronger, with 53% of 3rd graders and 56% of 4th graders proficient, suggesting effective math instruction that could be expanded.
An interesting finding is the comparison with Mater Academy Of International Studies, just 0.23 miles away, which serves a student population with a much higher poverty rate (88% free/reduced lunch) yet achieves significantly better results, ranking in the 45th percentile (2 stars) versus Santa Clara’s 17th percentile (1 star). This suggests Santa Clara’s challenges are tied to school-specific culture and strategies rather than just demographics. Additionally, Santa Clara spends $14,751 per student, higher than Mater Academy ($9,952), indicating that financial resources alone are not the solution. Unlike Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary School, which has shown dramatic improvement, Santa Clara’s performance has been stagnant, with no sustained upward trajectory over the last five years.
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