Mater Academy Virtual Charter School

Mater Academy Virtual Charter School is a small, K-12 virtual public school in Miami, FL, serving just 99 students within the Miami-Dade district. The school’s most standout feature is its perfect chronic absenteeism rate of 0.0% for five straight years—a stark contrast to the district average of 28.2% and nearby alternative schools like KIPP Miami-Liberty City (41.9%) and Secondary Student Success Center 801 (65.3%). This suggests the virtual model is highly effective at keeping students engaged daily, likely due to its flexible, at-home structure.

However, strong attendance doesn’t always mean strong test scores. While the school’s graduation rate has improved to 85.7% (up from 80% in 2022-2023), proficiency on state exams is mixed. For example, in 2025-2026, only 40% of students were proficient in Algebra 1 (vs. 69% district) and just 27% in 5th Grade ELA (vs. 65% district). On the flip side, the school excels in U.S. History (80% proficient, beating the district’s 76%) and 7th Grade Math (60% proficient, above the district’s 58%). Scores can swing dramatically from year to year, which is common for a school with only 99 students—a few kids’ results can shift percentages significantly.

Compared to the other virtual option in the area, Miami-Dade Online Academy- Virtual Instruction Program (297 students), Mater Academy has a lower graduation rate (85.7% vs. 97.7%) and generally lower test scores in elementary and middle school subjects. Mater Academy also spends more per student ($8,526 vs. $6,887) but serves a more affluent population, with only 7.07% of students receiving free/reduced lunch—far less than nearby alternative schools like New Opportunity Educational Center (71.88%). This context matters: Mater Academy’s “alternative” label groups it with schools serving students facing major challenges, but its low absenteeism and poverty rate suggest it attracts families who choose virtual learning for different reasons, such as flexibility or personalized pacing.