Toussaint L'Ouverture Elementary

Toussaint L'Ouverture Elementary is a public PK-5 school in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, serving 382 students as part of the Miami-Dade district, with a high level of economic need as 65.71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most striking feature of this school is the dramatic difference in performance between its 5th grade and its lower grades. In the 2025-2026 school year, 5th graders achieved an extraordinary 90% proficiency in both English Language Arts and Math, and 95% in Science—a massive one-year leap from the previous year's scores of 50%, 43%, and 34% respectively. This "5th Grade Effect" is not seen at nearby schools like Morningside K-8 Academy, where scores are more consistent across grades. However, 3rd and 4th graders at Toussaint L'Ouverture scored between 39% and 52% proficiency, suggesting the school may have a uniquely effective 5th-grade teaching team or intervention program rather than systemic improvement. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 34.8%, which is significantly higher than Morningside K-8 Academy's 11.1% and Eneida M. Hartner Elementary's 8.6%.

Despite spending $14,607 per student—more than nearby Mater Academy ($9,952) and Holmes Elementary ($13,414)—results remain mixed. The school's state ranking has fluctuated from the 3rd percentile to its current 42nd percentile, its highest in years. The key takeaway for parents is that Toussaint L'Ouverture shows potential for excellence, but it is currently isolated to 5th grade. The school's challenge is to replicate that success in earlier grades while addressing chronic absenteeism, which likely drags down overall performance.