Best Public Schools in Coral gables, FL

The city of Coral Gables, Florida, is home to eight public schools within the Miami-Dade County school district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a community known for its strong educational focus. The standout schools in this area are Henry S. West Laboratory School, ranked #12 in the state, and George W. Carver Elementary School, ranked #13, both of which achieve near-perfect test scores and have very low chronic absenteeism rates below 7%. For middle school, George Washington Carver Middle School is a top-20 school in Florida with exceptional proficiency rates, while International Studies Preparatory Academy leads high schools with a 98.1% graduation rate and strong test scores in Geometry and Biology.

Key metrics reveal a stark contrast between schools in the city. The top performers, including Henry S. West Laboratory School and George Washington Carver Middle School, have free/reduced lunch rates around 12-13% and student-teacher ratios as low as 14.3:1, while lower-performing schools like Ponce De Leon Middle School have a 49.61% free/reduced lunch rate and a 27.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Coral Gables Senior High School presents a paradox with a 97.2% graduation rate but test scores below district averages, particularly in Algebra 1 at 35% proficiency, and a high absenteeism rate of 28.2%.

Interesting findings include a clear "feeder pattern" where top elementary schools like George W. Carver Elementary School feed into George Washington Carver Middle School, creating a pathway of success, while Ponce De Leon Middle School struggles with lower scores and higher absenteeism. Per-student spending varies widely, from $16,688 at Henry S. West Laboratory School to $9,917 at Coral Gables Senior High School, but higher spending does not always guarantee better outcomes, as seen with Ponce De Leon Middle School spending more than some top performers. Overall, chronic absenteeism is a powerful indicator of performance, with the best schools having rates below 7% and the worst near 28%.