Summary:
The 10 schools in zip code 33018, serving Hialeah Gardens and Hialeah within the Miami-Dade County Public School District, offer a diverse mix of elementary, middle, high, and specialized alternative schools for approximately 12,466 students. Mater Gardens Academy stands out as the academic powerhouse, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with exceptional 3rd-grade math (95%) and ELA (86%) proficiency, despite spending significantly less per student ($10,276) than many peers. For high school, Barbara Goleman Senior High is the top performer, boasting a 99.8% graduation rate and outperforming district and state averages in every subject, while Hialeah Gardens Senior High School also posts a stellar 99.3% graduation rate but faces higher chronic absenteeism (44.5%).
A key finding is the "middle school math cliff," where 7th-grade math proficiency drops dramatically from 6th grade across multiple schools, including Hialeah Gardens Middle School (75% to 36%) and Ernest R. Graham K-8 Academy (82% to 51%). This suggests a systemic challenge in the transition to pre-algebra. Additionally, high spending does not guarantee high performance; Hialeah Gardens Elementary School spends $17,784 per student but ranks in the 68th percentile, while Mater Gardens Academy achieves far better results with less funding.
The alternative schools in the area are hidden success stories. South Florida Autism Charter School Inc achieves a 95.8% graduation rate, surpassing the state average, despite a high chronic absenteeism rate of 51.8%. Lincoln-Marti Charter School (Hialeah Campus) posts exceptional End-of-Course exam scores (96% in Algebra 1, 94% in Geometry) while serving a high-needs population. Chronic absenteeism is a concern across the area, averaging 27.4%, with Mater Gardens Academy having the lowest rate (12.3%) and both high schools exceeding the state average.
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