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Mater Academy

Q: Is Mater Academy a good school?

Mater Academy ranks 624 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-5

624^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Mater Academy in Hialeah Gardens, FL, is a large, high-performing elementary school (K-5) serving 1,521 students in the Miami-Dade district, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 30% of Florida schools despite over 92% of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

What truly sets Mater Academy apart is its remarkable ability to achieve strong academic results with a high-poverty student body, outperforming many nearby schools with more resources. For example, while Bob Graham Education Center serves a more affluent population, Mater Academy’s 5th-grade math proficiency (64%) is competitive, and it far exceeds schools with similar poverty levels like Ben Sheppard Elementary (60%) and Mae M. Walters Elementary (68%). The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 19.0%, significantly better than the district average of 28.2% and far lower than nearby Brightview Preparatory Academy (41.6%). Additionally, Mater Academy achieves these results with exceptional fiscal efficiency, spending just $9,983 per student compared to $18,847 at James H. Bright Elementary.

Mater Academy’s math program is a clear strength, with 73% of 5th graders proficient in math in 2024-2025, compared to 62% district-wide and 57% statewide. The school has shown a strong recovery after pandemic-related dips, with its state ranking climbing from the 67th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 79th percentile in 2024-2025. Interestingly, a nearby school with a similar name, Mater Palms Academy in the Osceola district, is a 2-star school with higher absenteeism and lower test scores, highlighting that Mater Academy’s success stems from its specific leadership and local implementation. Overall, Mater Academy serves as a beacon in the community, proving that a high-quality education is achievable regardless of economic challenges.

1,521

Students ?

21.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,983

Per pupil spending ?

92.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7700 NW 98th St
Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016

(305) 698-9900

District: Miami-Dade

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.2%

White:

0.7%

African American:

0.7%

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Compare Mater Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 60th percentile in 2021 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

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

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 72nd (2026) from a 60th-percentile low (2021)

✓Above the Florida median (72nd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg66%

Florida avg62%

624^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 8% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

95^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	70.3	624 of 2240	72.1%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	465 of 2258	79.4%	★★★★☆
2024	76.0	503 of 2256	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	65.2	731 of 2240	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	79.4	426 of 2219	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	58.8	895 of 2247	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	83.0	334 of 2182	84.7%	★★★★☆
2018	82.7	343 of 2118	83.8%	★★★★☆
2017	72.9	554 of 2112	73.8%	★★★★☆
2016	89.2	165 of 2087	92.1%	★★★★★
2014	84.0	289 of 2064	86.0%	★★★★☆
2013	79.7	356 of 2029	82.5%	★★★★☆
2012	78.1	395 of 1984	80.1%	★★★★☆
2011	84.2	244 of 1985	87.7%	★★★★☆
2010	78.1	369 of 1919	80.8%	★★★★☆
2009	82.9	263 of 1847	85.8%	★★★★☆
2008	82.8	254 of 1789	85.8%	★★★★☆
2007	71.3	505 of 1786	71.7%	★★★★☆
2006	70.2	513 of 1688	69.6%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts71%+11 vs state

Math71%+6 vs state

Science63%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mater Academy

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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
Mater Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	7700 NW 98th St	Hialeah Gardens	33016	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	Yes	(305) 698-9900	1,521	71	21.4	92.6%	10 (0.7%)	10 (0.7%)	1,493 (98.2%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	70.3	624^th of 2240 public elementary schools	72.1%		77.3	465^th of 2258 public elementary schools	79.4%	159	70.0	73.0	70.0				72.0	76.0	64.0				63.0						$9,983	$667	$9,316
Mater Palms Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	7901 NW 103rd St	Hialeah Gardens	33016	Osceola County	Osceola	Yes	No	No	Yes	(407) 390-1106	866	40	21.6	63.0%	164 (18.9%)	60 (6.9%)	612 (70.7%)	10 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	16 (1.8%)	35	1527^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.8%		45	1222^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	45.9%	305	60.0	50.0	48.0	69.0	65.0	62.0	63.0	54.0	41.0	61.0	76.0	41.0	35.0	18.0	76.0		93.0	71.0	$7,832	$462	$7,370
Ben Sheppard Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	5700 W 24th Ave	Hialeah	33016	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	Yes	(305) 556-2204	927	58	15.9	63.2%	6 (0.6%)	13 (1.4%)	905 (97.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	52.1	1091^st of 2240 public elementary schools	51.3%		53	1042^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	53.9%	49	64.0	57.0	55.0				83.0	71.0	60.0				43.0						$13,125	$1,513	$11,613
Marcus A. Milam K-8 Center	Public	PK, KG-8	6020 W 16th Ave	Hialeah	33012	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 822-0301	1,082	61	17.7	55.2%	5 (0.5%)	5 (0.5%)	1,066 (98.5%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27.1	1739^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.4%		26.6	1733^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.3%	6	55.0	43.0	48.0	50.0	48.0	52.0	63.0	47.0	46.0	57.0	48.0	62.0	32.0	18.0	74.0	100.0	89.0	63.0	$12,952	$1,398	$11,554
John G. Dupuis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1150 W 59th Pl	Hialeah	33012	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 821-6361	508	33	15.3	64.4%	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	502 (98.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	59.6	887^th of 2240 public elementary schools	60.4%		65.7	740^th of 2258 public elementary schools	67.2%	147	58.0	71.0	56.0				78.0	62.0	72.0				58.0						$14,599	$1,367	$13,232
Meadowlane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4280 W 8th Ave	Hialeah	33012	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 822-0660	786	42	18.7	60.9%	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	780 (99.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	59.2	901^st of 2240 public elementary schools	59.8%		50.6	1100^th of 2258 public elementary schools	51.3%	199	70.0	54.0	54.0				76.0	82.0	68.0				55.0						$11,971	$1,270	$10,701
Bob Graham Education Center	Public	PK, KG-8	15901 NW 79th Ave	Miami Lakes	33016	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	No	(305) 557-3303	1,404	82	17.1	40.5%	59 (4.2%)	42 (3.0%)	1,283 (91.4%)	18 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	71.3	593^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	73.5%		72.8	561^st of 2258 public elementary schools	75.2%	32	71.0	79.0	72.0	70.0	83.0	75.0	72.0	81.0	74.0	53.0	53.0	88.0	63.0	69.0	97.0	100.0	100.0	85.0	$12,859	$1,360	$11,499
James H. Bright Elementary/J.W. Johnson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2530 W 10th Ave	Hialeah	33010	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 885-1683	452	34	13.2	61.9%	2 (0.4%)	21 (4.6%)	429 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20.8	1900^th of 2240 public elementary schools	15.2%		18	1970^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.8%	70	35.0	43.0	32.0				46.0	71.0	49.0				38.0						$18,847	$2,019	$16,828
Brightview Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1084 West 23rd St	Hialeah	33010	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(305) 885-4900	112	8	14.0	83.9%	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (99.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																			$11,896	$897	$10,998
Mae M. Walters Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	650 W 33rd St	Hialeah	33012	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	Yes	(305) 822-4600	620	41	15.1	63.2%	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	616 (99.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59.7	882^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	60.6%		50.6	1101^st of 2258 public elementary schools	51.2%	219	72.0	62.0	53.0				75.0	65.0	68.0				60.0						$14,037	$1,489	$12,548

Frequently Asked Questions about Mater Academy

Is Mater Academy a good school?

Mater Academy ranks 624^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Mater Academy?

Students at Mater Academy are 98% Hispanic.

What district is Mater Academy in?

Miami-Dade

How many students attend Mater Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,521 students attended Mater Academy.

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Latest Florida data All new data »

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

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.