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Tropical Elementary School

Q: Is Tropical Elementary School a good school?

Tropical Elementary School ranks 711 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

711^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Tropical Elementary School in Miami, FL, is a public PK-5 school serving 367 students within the Miami-Dade district, and it has recently become a standout story of academic improvement, climbing from the 32nd percentile statewide in 2022-2023 to the 68th percentile in 2025-2026.

The school’s most impressive feature is its 5th-grade class, which achieved an 81% proficiency rate in English Language Arts and an 86% proficiency rate in Math—well above both district and state averages. This performance is a key driver of the school’s recent ranking boost. However, the school shows a "tale of two grades" in ELA, as 3rd and 4th graders lag behind with proficiency rates of 55% and 50%, respectively. This suggests the current 5th-grade cohort may be exceptionally strong, or that the school’s upper-grade instruction is particularly effective. Science is also a consistent strength, with 72% of 5th graders proficient, outperforming the district and state. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $20,675 per pupil and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1—the lowest among nearby schools like Rockway Elementary School (15.4:1) and Royal Palm Elementary School (13.8:1).

Despite this progress, Tropical faces challenges. Chronic absenteeism, while improved from 30.8% to 17.8%, remains higher than at nearby schools like Olympia Heights Elementary School (16.6%) and Royal Palm (15.4%). The school is also surrounded by higher-performing neighbors, including Royal Palm and Snapper Creek Elementary School, both 5-star schools, and True North Classical Academy At Gateway, an elite performer in the 99th percentile. Interestingly, the nearby Bridgeprep Academy Of St.Cloud and Bridgeprep Academy Of Polk are charter schools from other districts, with significantly lower performance than Miami-Dade schools. Overall, Tropical’s rapid turnaround and targeted investments make it a school to watch, though it still has ground to cover to match the top-tier options in its area.

367

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,675

Per pupil spending ?

45%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4545 SW 104th Ave
Miami, FL 33165

(305) 221-0284

District: Miami-Dade

Students who attend Tropical Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Riviera Middle School
High:	Southwest Miami Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

97.8%

White:

1.1%

African American:

0.5%

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Compare Tropical Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 43rd percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (70% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Florida median (68th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg66%

Florida avg62%

711^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 43% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

103^rd 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	66.7	711 of 2240	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.5	628 of 2258	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	63.7	781 of 2256	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.9	1526 of 2240	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.2	1220 of 2219	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.9	810 of 2247	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.1	1241 of 2182	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.4	903 of 2118	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	41.5	1243 of 2112	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.4	1184 of 2087	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.0	886 of 2064	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	41.7	1190 of 2029	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	56.4	870 of 1984	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.3	1065 of 1985	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	49.6	1041 of 1919	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	27.3	1442 of 1847	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	33.0	1283 of 1789	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.8	1405 of 1786	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	45.5	955 of 1688	43.4%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math76%+12 vs state

Science72%+12 vs state

English Language Arts62%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 8, 2011

I love the school, teachers, and staff. I myself attended Tropical...and loved it. Close Quote

Schools Near Tropical 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 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 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
Tropical Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4545 SW 104th Ave	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 221-0284	367	29	12.6	45.0%	4 (1.1%)	2 (0.5%)	359 (97.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.7	711^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.3%		70.5	628^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.2%	83	55.0	50.0	81.0				72.0	69.0	86.0				72.0					$20,675	$2,347	$18,328
Pinecrest Cove Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4101 SW 107th Ave	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	No	(305) 480-2097	938	44	21.3	55.7%	21 (2.2%)	4 (0.4%)	912 (97.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	85.7	241^st of 2240 public elementary schools	89.2%		87.3	239^th of 2258 public elementary schools	89.4%	2	82.0	74.0	82.0	93.0	89.0	90.0	81.0	78.0	76.0	92.0	95.0	87.0	72.0	61.0	96.0	93.0	97.0	$9,503	$1,356	$8,147
Bridgeprep Academy South	Public, Charter	K-8	10700 SW 56th St	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	No	(305) 271-3109	453	27	16.7	47.9%	8 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	443 (97.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	58.3	924^th of 2240 public elementary schools	58.8%		50.5	1102^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	51.2%	178	80.0	46.0	62.0	78.0	79.0	56.0	80.0	52.0	62.0	68.0	78.0	86.0	60.0	30.0	100.0	80.0	79.0	$11,949	$240	$11,709
Olympia Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9797 SW 40th St	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 221-3821	318	22	14.4	68.9%	3 (0.9%)	5 (1.6%)	310 (97.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51.3	1106^th of 2240 public elementary schools	50.6%		60.2	879^th of 2258 public elementary schools	61.1%	227	52.0	40.0	73.0				71.0	77.0	67.0				45.0					$19,718	$2,721	$16,997
Royal Palm Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4200 SW 112th Ct	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 221-7961	514	37	13.8	53.7%	5 (1.0%)	3 (0.6%)	502 (97.7%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	86.8	215^th of 2240 public elementary schools	90.4%		85	292^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	87.1%	77	90.0	61.0	88.0				89.0	82.0	94.0				88.0					$15,135	$2,004	$13,131
Cypress K-8 Center	Public	PK, KG-8	5400 SW 112th Ct	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 271-1611	376	25	15.0	52.1%	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	371 (98.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52.3	1086^th of 2240 public elementary schools	51.5%		52.9	1048^th of 2258 public elementary schools	53.6%	38	56.0	77.0	63.0	63.0	79.0	62.0	56.0	69.0	57.0	54.0	57.0	76.0	63.0	29.0	92.0	93.0	87.0	$18,585	$2,195	$16,390
Snapper Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10151 SW 64th St	Miami	33173	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	No	(305) 271-2111	362	33	10.9	51.4%	13 (3.6%)	6 (1.7%)	338 (93.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	91.5	102^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	95.4%		81.6	377^th of 2258 public elementary schools	83.3%	275	87.0	83.0	76.0				98.0	97.0	89.0				70.0					$22,083	$2,998	$19,085
True North Classical Academy At Gateway	Public, Charter	K-8	6500 SW 97th Ave	Miami	33173	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	No	(786) 788-5600	333	15	22.2	11.7%	22 (6.6%)	5 (1.5%)	304 (91.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	95.1	29^th of 2240 public elementary schools	98.7%		96.8	16^th of 2258 public elementary schools	99.3%	13	95.0	100.0	93.0	98.0			95.0	83.0	90.0	100.0			81.0					$10,149	$257	$9,893
Rockway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2790 SW 93rd Ct	Miami	33165	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 221-1192	370	24	15.4	55.1%	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	364 (98.4%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55.2	1015^th of 2240 public elementary schools	54.7%		67.2	711^th of 2258 public elementary schools	68.5%	304	54.0	59.0	62.0				76.0	78.0	63.0				48.0					$15,228	$1,638	$13,590
Bridgeprep Academy Of St.Cloud	Public, Charter	K-8	9875 SW 72 St	Miami	33173	Osceola County	Osceola	Yes	No	No	No	(407) 593-3747	737	0	25.7	42.2%	93 (12.6%)	47 (6.4%)	563 (76.4%)	11 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.7%)	17 (2.3%)	41.2	1370^th of 2240 public elementary schools	38.8%		36.9	1452^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	35.7%	82	60.0	60.0	65.0	59.0	75.0	58.0	53.0	60.0	42.0	40.0	52.0	47.0	60.0	29.0	80.0	93.0	95.0	$7,909	$81	$7,827

Frequently Asked Questions about Tropical Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Tropical Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Tropical Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Riviera Middle School
High : Southwest Miami Senior High

What is the racial makeup of Tropical Elementary School?

Students at Tropical Elementary School are 98% Hispanic, 1% White.

How many students attend Tropical Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 367 students attended Tropical Elementary School.

What district is Tropical Elementary School in?

Miami-Dade

Is Tropical Elementary School a good school?

Tropical Elementary School ranks 711^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Tropical Elementary School!

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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.