Imater Preparatory Academy High School

Imater Preparatory Academy High School in Hialeah, FL, is a public charter school serving 994 students in grades 9 through 12 within the Miami-Dade school district, where a large majority of students (74%) come from low-income households.

The school stands out for its exceptional graduation rate of 98.7%, which is well above both the district (93.1%) and state (92.2%) averages. However, this success in getting students to graduation is not matched by academic proficiency on state exams. For example, only 47% of students were proficient in Algebra 1 compared to 69% district-wide, and 53% in Biology 1 versus 75% district-wide. This creates a notable paradox: the school excels at ensuring students finish, but struggles to ensure they master core academic content. A major concern is the high chronic absenteeism rate of 41.1%, which is significantly worse than the district (28.2%) and state (31.4%) averages and likely contributes to the lower test scores. The school also spends less per student ($9,125) than nearby traditional schools like Westland Hialeah Senior High School ($10,955) and Miami Springs Senior High School ($11,946).

Interestingly, Imater is part of the same charter network as Mater Academy Charter High School, which serves a similar student population but achieves much higher test scores (73% proficient in Algebra 1 vs. Imater's 47%). This suggests that high-poverty charter schools can achieve both high graduation and strong academics, making Imater's low proficiency rates a more pointed concern. On a positive note, Imater consistently performs well in US History, with 76% of students proficient, matching the district average. The school's primary challenge is to urgently address its absenteeism crisis and investigate the disconnect between its high graduation rate and low academic performance to ensure students are truly prepared for the future.