Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy Of The Arts

Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy Of The Arts is a public elementary school (PK-5) in Palmetto Bay, FL, serving 513 students within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district, with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and a consistent academic track record that places it in the 59th percentile statewide. One of the most striking features of Perrine Academy is its exceptional performance in the upper grades, particularly 5th grade, where students significantly outperform district and state averages. In the most recent school year, 5th graders achieved 75% proficiency in math and 71% in English Language Arts, making it one of the top-performing schools in the area for that grade level—beating out nearby Cutler Ridge Elementary School and Miami Heights Elementary School. This success is part of a clear upward trend over the last three years, with 5th-grade math scores rising from 55% to 75% and science scores improving from 42% to 57%.

However, the school presents an interesting pattern: while its 5th graders shine, its 3rd and 4th graders often perform at or below district averages. For example, 3rd-grade ELA proficiency (53%) lags behind the district (64%) and top local schools like Howard Drive Elementary School (88%) and Whispering Pines Elementary School (81%). This suggests that Perrine Academy may have a particularly effective instructional program in the upper grades that accelerates learning, or that it excels at closing gaps as students progress. The school also maintains a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 21.0%, which is much better than nearby Robert Russa Moton Elementary School (44.1%) and Pine Lake Elementary School (30.7%), indicating a stable and engaged student body.

When compared to its neighbor Coral Reef Elementary School—just 1.32 miles away—Perrine Academy serves a more diverse socioeconomic population (55% free/reduced lunch vs. 28%) and spends more per student ($15,335 vs. $13,338), yet Coral Reef consistently achieves higher overall scores. This highlights the competitive landscape in Palmetto Bay, where Perrine Academy is a solid, improving school that still has room to grow. The contrast with Robert Russa Moton Elementary is even starker: despite Moton spending $22,696 per student (the highest in the area) and serving a higher-needs population, Perrine Academy achieves far superior academic results, underscoring the importance of school culture and instructional quality over funding alone.