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Laura C. Saunders Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1993^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Laura C. Saunders Elementary School in Homestead, FL, is a public school serving 498 students in grades PK-5 within the Miami-Dade district, where a majority of families (66.67%) qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges, most notably an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 39.1% in the 2023-2024 school year—nearly double that of nearby schools like Somerset Oaks Academy (19.6%) and Somerset Arts Academy (19.2%). This attendance issue is strongly linked to low academic performance, with the school ranking in the bottom 11th percentile statewide (1993 out of 2240 schools) and earning a 1-star rating for most recent years. For example, only 28% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the district average of 64%. However, there is a relative strength in math, where 4th graders achieved 61% proficiency—more than double their ELA rate of 30%. Fifth-grade science also shows some volatility and potential, with proficiency rising from 28% in 2023-2024 to 36% in 2025-2026.

What makes this school stand out is the stark contrast with its closest neighbor, Somerset Academy Charter Elementary School (South Homestead), located just 0.66 miles away. Despite serving a similar demographic (84.21% free/reduced lunch), Somerset Academy ranks in the 78th percentile with a 4-star rating, while Laura C. Saunders remains in the bottom tier. Notably, Laura C. Saunders spends $14,522 per student—higher than Somerset Academy’s $8,699—suggesting that funding alone isn’t the issue. Instead, the school’s challenges likely stem from how resources are used, particularly in addressing chronic absenteeism and improving literacy instruction. For parents, this means that while the school has dedicated staff and resources, its current performance and attendance patterns are significant concerns compared to other options in the area.

498

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,522

Per pupil spending ?

66.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

505 SW 8th St
Homestead, FL 33030

(305) 247-3933

District: Miami-Dade

Students who attend Laura C. Saunders Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Homestead Middle School
High:	Homestead Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.4%

African American:

47.8%

White:

1.4%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Laura C. Saunders Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 9th percentile in 2016 → 11th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (40% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 29% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg66%

Florida avg62%

1,993^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

268^th of 279Elementary Schools in the Miami-Dade

20^th of 70Miami-Dade among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	17.2	1993 of 2240	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.7	1886 of 2258	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	2091 of 2256	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.4	1973 of 2240	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	1971 of 2219	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.9	2074 of 2247	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.8	1942 of 2182	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.9	1835 of 2118	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.8	1580 of 2112	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	13.7	1893 of 2087	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	22.0	1706 of 2064	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	35.2	1350 of 2029	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	14.4	1786 of 1984	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	3.0	1965 of 1985	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	9.4	1815 of 1919	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.1	1795 of 1847	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	13.8	1626 of 1789	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	14.5	1599 of 1786	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	12.5	1530 of 1688	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math55%-10 vs state

Science36%-24 vs state

English Language Arts28%-33 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 5, 2019

My daughter since she been in Laura c Saunders is done so well since she started Close Quote

Schools Near Laura C. Saunders Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Laura C. Saunders Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	505 SW 8th St	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 247-3933	498	30	16.6	66.7%	7 (1.4%)	238 (47.8%)	251 (50.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	17.2	1993^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	11.0%		20.7	1886^th of 2258 public elementary schools	16.5%	107	28.0	30.0	24.0				50.0	61.0	54.0				36.0						$14,522	$2,314	$12,208
Somerset Academy Charter Elementary School (South Homestead	Public, Charter	K-5	300 SE 1st Dr	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 245-6108	551	32	17.2	84.2%	19 (3.4%)	32 (5.8%)	488 (88.6%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	75.8	485^th of 2240 public elementary schools	78.3%		80.6	397^th of 2258 public elementary schools	82.4%	88	71.0	74.0	66.0				85.0	89.0	62.0				67.0						$8,699	$390	$8,309
Lincoln-Marti Schools (International Campus)	Public, Charter	K-8	103 E Lucy St	Florida City	33034	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 242-3330	210	19	11.0	61.0%	3 (1.4%)	27 (12.9%)	180 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63.9	788^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.8%		63.2	799^th of 2258 public elementary schools	64.6%	11	71.0	69.0	54.0	61.0	91.0	88.0	93.0	77.0	69.0	83.0	100.0		55.0		94.0		81.0	100.0	$16,253	$1,105	$15,148
West Homestead K-8 Center	Public	PK, KG-8	1550 SW 6th St	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 248-0812	864	47	18.3	50.3%	8 (0.9%)	184 (21.3%)	671 (77.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	23.9	1818^th of 2240 public elementary schools	18.8%		12	2105^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.8%	287	45.0	31.0	33.0	34.0	31.0	28.0	57.0	62.0	64.0	49.0	52.0	55.0	35.0	30.0	83.0			61.0	$11,471	$1,521	$9,951
Florida City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	364 NW 6th Ave	Florida City	33034	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 247-4676	535	31	17.2	75.1%	7 (1.3%)	274 (51.2%)	250 (46.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	18.9	1962^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	12.4%		7	2196^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.7%	234	42.0	53.0	46.0				43.0	54.0	36.0				39.0						$13,399	$1,794	$11,605
Miami Community Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	101 S Redland Rd	Florida City	33034	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 245-2552	545	27	20.1	89.2%	1 (0.2%)	48 (8.8%)	488 (89.5%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22	1875^th of 2240 public elementary schools	16.3%		30	1647^th of 2258 public elementary schools	27.1%	228	66.0	37.0	41.0				55.0	44.0	34.0				36.0						$12,049	$3,128	$8,920
Redondo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	18480 SW 304th St	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 247-5943	569	38	14.9	50.6%	9 (1.6%)	26 (4.6%)	530 (93.1%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	52.0						54.0												$14,382	$1,380	$13,004
Somerset Oaks Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1000 Old Dixie Hwy	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 247-3993	628	32	19.6	86.5%	21 (3.3%)	18 (2.9%)	586 (93.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45.5	1258^th of 2240 public elementary schools	43.8%		52.6	1058^th of 2258 public elementary schools	53.1%	200	48.0	55.0	53.0	65.0	80.0	76.0	72.0	60.0	60.0	67.0	70.0	59.0	51.0	40.0	76.0	100.0	100.0	86.0	$10,731	$590	$10,142
Somerset Arts Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1700 N Krome Ave	Homestead	33030	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 246-4949	413	24	17.2	75.5%	40 (9.7%)	15 (3.6%)	349 (84.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	6 (1.5%)	64.4	777^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.3%		71.3	600^th of 2258 public elementary schools	73.4%	177	59.0	58.0	68.0				80.0	72.0	68.0				64.0						$9,927	$247	$9,680
Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center	Public	PK, KG-8	955 SE 18th Ave	Homestead	33035	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 257-6000	1,165	62	18.7	67.1%	36 (3.1%)	520 (44.6%)	594 (51.0%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (0.9%)	12.8	2085^th of 2240 public elementary schools	6.9%		15.1	2035^th of 2258 public elementary schools	9.9%	50	35.0	38.0	37.0	46.0	51.0	42.0	43.0	41.0	38.0	50.0	35.0	34.0	34.0	38.0	82.0	88.0	100.0	64.0	$12,180	$1,453	$10,728

Frequently Asked Questions about Laura C. Saunders Elementary School

How many students attend Laura C. Saunders Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 498 students attended Laura C. Saunders Elementary School.

Is Laura C. Saunders Elementary School a good school?

Laura C. Saunders Elementary School ranks in the bottom 11.0% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Laura C. Saunders Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Laura C. Saunders Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Homestead Middle School
High : Homestead Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Laura C. Saunders Elementary School?

Students at Laura C. Saunders Elementary School are 50% Hispanic, 48% African American, 1% White.

What district is Laura C. Saunders Elementary School in?

Miami-Dade

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2024–25 attendance dataNewAug 18, 2026

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.