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Felix Varela Senior High School

Q: Is Felix Varela Senior High School a good school?

Felix Varela Senior High School ranks 447 th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

447^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 47% of Florida high schools

Summary

Felix Varela Senior High School is a large public high school in Miami, FL, serving 1,935 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Miami-Dade district, where it sits in a neighborhood surrounded by both high-performing magnet schools and other traditional senior highs.

The most striking feature of Felix Varela is its graduation rate paradox: the school graduates nearly all of its students (99.6% in 2024-2025), far exceeding district and state averages, yet its standardized test scores in math, English, and biology consistently fall below those same averages. For example, only 48% of students were proficient in Algebra 1 compared to 69% district-wide. This suggests a strong focus on ensuring students complete coursework, but a potential gap in mastering core academic content. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism, with 37.5% of students chronically absent in 2023-2024, significantly higher than the district (28.2%) and state (31.4%) averages. On a positive note, Felix Varela shows relative strength in US History, where 74% of students were proficient, matching the state average. Additionally, there is a promising upward trend in Algebra 1 proficiency, which rose from 30% in 2023-2024 to 48% in 2025-2026, indicating recent math interventions may be working.

Compared to nearby schools, Felix Varela occupies a middle ground. It is surrounded by elite magnet schools like Terra Environmental Research Institute (ranked 9th in the state) and Archimedean Upper Conservatory (ranked 8th), which boast near-perfect test scores and graduation rates. In contrast, Felix Varela’s performance aligns more closely with other large traditional high schools in the area, such as G. Holmes Braddock Senior High and Miami Sunset Senior High School. This creates a stark educational divide within the same community, where a student’s academic experience can vary dramatically based on school choice. The school’s per-student spending ($11,303) and student-teacher ratio (24.1) are average for the area, suggesting its challenges stem more from school culture and instructional strategies than from funding or overcrowding.

1,935

Students ?

24.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,303

Per pupil spending ?

40.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

15255 SW 96th St
Miami, FL 33196

(305) 752-7900

District: Miami-Dade

Feeder schools for Felix Varela Senior High School:

Elementary:	Dr. Gilbert L. Porter Elementary School
	Kendall Square K-8 Center
	Oliver Hoover Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

91.9%

White:

4.1%

African American:

2.6%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Felix Varela Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 47th in 2026

Strengths

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the Florida average (92%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (57% vs 64% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

!Algebra 1 scores 15 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg68%

Florida avg64%

447^th of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 47%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

65^th of 108High 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	41.9	447 of 838	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.9	453 of 844	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.6	457 of 807	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.7	391 of 792	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	440 of 774	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.4	421 of 746	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	414 of 734	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.0	357 of 716	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	42.5	347 of 714	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	44.8	329 of 693	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	50.9	321 of 687	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	56.2	233 of 648	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	49.5	241 of 606	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.8	261 of 622	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.9	246 of 620	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.4	246 of 587	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	58.0	249 of 577	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	55.8	251 of 563	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.6	217 of 477	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	55.8	227 of 487	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	47.4	277 of 484	42.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History74%~ state avg

Biology 167%-7 vs state

English Language Arts52%-8 vs state

Algebra 148%-15 vs state

Geometry46%-10 vs state

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Schools Near Felix Varela Senior High 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 US History (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Felix Varela Senior High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	15255 SW 96th St	Miami	33196	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	No	(305) 752-7900	1,935	80	24.1	40.5%	79 (4.1%)	51 (2.6%)	1,778 (91.9%)	19 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.4%)	41.9	447^th of 838 public high schools	46.7%		40.9	453^rd of 844 public high schools	46.3%	6				53.0	52.0					48.0	46.0	67.0	74.0		$11,303	$1,178	$10,124
John A. Ferguson Senior High	Public, Magnet	9-12	15900 SW 56th St	Miami	33185	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	No	(305) 408-2700	4,291	161	26.6	38.1%	129 (3.0%)	50 (1.2%)	4,028 (93.9%)	67 (1.6%)	1 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (0.4%)	64.2	189^th of 838 public high schools	77.4%		64.8	185^th of 844 public high schools	78.1%	4				71.0	75.0					52.0	62.0	80.0	79.0		$9,301	$998	$8,303
Bridgeprep Academy Of Village Green Middle High School	Public, Charter	6-12	13300 SW 120th St	Miami	33186	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(786) 408-0661	696	29	24.0	36.6%	21 (3.0%)	11 (1.6%)	660 (94.8%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	38.2	496^th of 838 public high schools	40.8%		28.1	603^rd of 844 public high schools	28.6%	107	65.0	62.0	35.0	41.0	41.0	66.0		44.0	16.0	51.0	46.0	56.0	81.0	84.0	$10,127	$44	$10,083
Miami Sunset Senior High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	13125 SW 72nd St	Miami	33183	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	Yes	(305) 385-4255	979	49	19.9	41.5%	28 (2.9%)	23 (2.3%)	917 (93.7%)	8 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	40.3	470^th of 838 public high schools	43.9%		43.4	417^th of 844 public high schools	50.6%	53				51.0	46.0					51.0	58.0	67.0	69.0		$13,804	$1,634	$12,170
Archimedean Upper Conservatory	Public, Charter	9-12	12425 SW 72nd St	Miami	33183	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	No	(305) 279-6572	306	23	13.3	32.4%	27 (8.8%)	8 (2.6%)	240 (78.4%)	28 (9.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	92.1	8^th of 838 public high schools	99.0%		90	17^th of 844 public high schools	98.0%	9				92.0	96.0						95.0	100.0	97.0		$13,405	$00	$13,405
Pinecrest Preparatory Academy Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	14901 SW 42nd St	Miami	33185	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	Yes	No	No	No	(305) 559-8583	529	10	52.9	56.9%	15 (2.8%)	2 (0.4%)	509 (96.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	70.4	135^th of 838 public high schools	83.9%		68.5	159^th of 844 public high schools	81.2%	24				79.0	74.0					74.0	74.0	79.0	78.0		$9,625	$89	$9,536
G. Holmes Braddock Senior High	Public, Magnet	9-12	3601 SW 147th Ave	Miami	33185	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	Yes	(305) 225-9729	2,291	108	21.2	46.0%	27 (1.2%)	9 (0.4%)	2,243 (97.9%)	9 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	40	472^nd of 838 public high schools	43.7%		42	436^th of 844 public high schools	48.3%	36				53.0	49.0					43.0	37.0	67.0	77.0		$12,108	$1,272	$10,837
School For Advanced Studies - South	Public	11-12	11011 SW 104th St # T-301	Miami	33176	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	No	No	No	(305) 237-0510	290	8	36.2	18.3%	23 (7.9%)	8 (2.8%)	236 (81.4%)	20 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)								(n/a)															$10,183	$445	$9,737
Miami Arts Studio 6-12 At Zelda Glazer	Public, Magnet	6-12	15015 SW 24th St	Miami	33185	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	No	(305) 485-2323	1,799	79	22.7	25.6%	46 (2.6%)	12 (0.7%)	1,729 (96.1%)	11 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	86.8	34^th of 838 public high schools	95.9%		87.7	32^nd of 844 public high schools	96.2%	2	94.0	94.0	86.0	94.0	93.0	92.0	83.0	96.0	69.0	99.0	87.0	96.0	94.0	97.0	$10,312	$853	$9,459
Terra Environmental Research Institute	Public, Magnet	9-12	11005 SW 84th St	Miami	33173	Miami-Dade County	Miami-Dade	No	Yes	No	No	(305) 412-5800	1,644	62	26.5	24.2%	119 (7.2%)	24 (1.5%)	1,446 (88.0%)	47 (2.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.4%)	91.4	9^th of 838 public high schools	98.9%		92.3	9^th of 844 public high schools	98.9%					95.0	95.0						95.0	97.0	97.0		$9,758	$517	$9,242

Frequently Asked Questions about Felix Varela Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Felix Varela Senior High School?

Students at Felix Varela Senior High School are 92% Hispanic, 4% White, 3% African American.

How many students attend Felix Varela Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,935 students attended Felix Varela Senior High School.

What schools feed into Felix Varela Senior High School?

Felix Varela Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dr. Gilbert L. Porter Elementary School
Elementary : Kendall Square K-8 Center
Elementary : Oliver Hoover Elementary School

Is Felix Varela Senior High School a good school?

Felix Varela Senior High School ranks 447^th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Felix Varela Senior High School in?

Miami-Dade

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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.