Elementary Schools in Miami-Dade

This analysis examines 100 elementary schools from the Miami-Dade County Public School district, which serves students from Pre-K through 5th grade (and K-8 in many centers) across a diverse geographic and socioeconomic landscape, from Aventura to Homestead.

Standout schools in this area show a clear divide in performance. Top-tier schools like Sunset Elementary School and Palmetto Elementary School rank among the top 10 in the entire state, achieving near-perfect test scores and chronic absenteeism rates below 7%. In contrast, schools like Citrus Grove K-8 Center and Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center rank in the bottom 7% of Florida, with chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 40%. A remarkable exception is Somerset Academy Silver Palms, which ranks in the top 15% of the state despite having the highest poverty rate in the sample (85.87% free/reduced lunch), demonstrating that high achievement is possible regardless of socioeconomic factors.

Key metrics reveal that chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of performance, with top schools averaging below 7% and struggling schools above 35%. Spending per student varies widely from $8,849 at Doral Academy to $18,294 at Thomas Jefferson Biscayne Gardens K-8 Academy, yet higher spending does not guarantee better results. Charter schools like Hive Preparatory School and Ada Merritt K-8 Center are among the best in the state, while others like Keys Gate Charter School struggle. Geographic clusters show that schools in affluent areas like Pinecrest and Coral Gables consistently outperform those in Homestead and parts of Hialeah, reflecting deep-seated community divides.