Phoenix Academy Of Excellence

Phoenix Academy Of Excellence is a small public middle school in Miami, FL, serving just 27 students in grades 6-8 within the Miami-Dade school district, a 4-star district, but it is one of the lowest-performing middle schools in the state, ranking in the 6th percentile.

The most critical issue at Phoenix Academy is an extreme chronic absenteeism rate of 86.5%, which is nearly three times higher than nearby Georgia Jones Ayers Middle School (55.4%) and far above the district average of 28.2%. This means most students are missing so much school that consistent learning is nearly impossible, despite the school having a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1 and spending $14,223 per student. Academic results reflect this crisis: only 10% of students are proficient in Civics and 7% in 8th Grade Science, compared to district averages of 79% and 49%, respectively. A sibling school, Phoenix Academy Of Excellence North, shows a similar pattern with a 73.8% absentee rate and 0% proficiency in 8th Grade Science, suggesting a systemic challenge.

There is one small positive trend: 8th Grade Math proficiency has improved from 0% to 35% over three years, though it remains far below the district average of 65%. In stark contrast, Mater International Preparatory, just 3.55 miles away, serves a similarly disadvantaged population (85.85% free/reduced lunch) but achieves dramatically different results, with a 15.2% absentee rate and 90% proficiency in Algebra 1. This comparison highlights that high poverty does not have to mean low performance, and that addressing the root causes of absenteeism—such as through community outreach and family support—is essential for Phoenix Academy to improve.