Summary:
The two public schools in zip code 33031, Homestead, Florida, are Redland Elementary School and Redland Middle School, both part of the Miami-Dade district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks 20th out of 70 districts in Florida.
These two schools present a stark contrast in academic performance and trends. Redland Elementary School is on a clear upward trajectory, with its state ranking improving from the 32nd to the 49th percentile. Math proficiency scores have risen across all tested grades and now exceed state averages, suggesting effective teaching strategies are taking hold. In contrast, Redland Middle School has stagnated in the 25th-28th percentile for three years, with alarmingly low proficiency in core subjects like 6th-grade Math (31%) and ELA (41%). A major red flag is the school's 37.7% chronic absenteeism rate, far worse than district and state averages, which is almost certainly a primary driver of its poor performance. Interestingly, Redland Middle is a standout in Biology 1 EOC scores, with 86% proficiency, significantly outperforming the district and state—a puzzling anomaly that may point to a single exceptional teacher or program.
A critical takeaway is the apparent "middle school slump" when students transition from the elementary to the middle school. For example, 5th graders at Redland Elementary scored 71% proficient in Math, but 6th graders at Redland Middle scored only 31% proficient. This dramatic drop highlights a major challenge in maintaining academic momentum. Furthermore, Redland Middle spends $3,428 more per student ($14,837) than the elementary school ($11,409), yet achieves worse outcomes, indicating that additional funding is not translating into effective support. Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with Redland Middle having a higher rate of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (65%) compared to Redland Elementary (59%).
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