Leewood K-8 Center

Leewood K-8 Center is a public school in the Kendall area of Miami, serving 506 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade within the Miami-Dade County Public School District. This school stands out as a reliable, high-quality institution with a strong historical track record, consistently earning 4 or 5 stars from SchoolDigger over the past decade and recently ranking in the 89th percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year.

Leewood’s middle school performance is a key differentiator from nearby schools. In 8th grade, the school achieves proficiency rates of 67% in science, 83% in math, and 85% in English Language Arts—all significantly above district and state averages, and competitive with top K-8 centers like Somerset Preparatory Academy Sunset and Vineland K-8 Center. The elementary grades are equally impressive, with 3rd through 5th grade ELA proficiency rates ranging from 75% to 88%, outperforming many highly-ranked neighbors such as Kendale Elementary School. Additionally, Leewood boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.3%, less than half the district and state averages, which is a strong predictor of academic success.

While Leewood is a steady performer, it sits in a diverse cluster of schools. Just 0.68 miles away, Gloria Floyd Elementary School struggles with higher absenteeism and lower test scores despite spending significantly more per student ($24,065 vs. Leewood’s $14,195). In contrast, charter schools like Somerset Academy Kendall and Somerset Academy Bay achieve near-perfect scores with lower spending, but Leewood offers a compelling middle ground—a traditional public school with consistent excellence, stable administration, and a supportive environment that avoids the intense competition of charters. One area for attention is a pattern of lower math proficiency in 7th grade, though the school’s recent improvement to 53% is a positive sign.