Summary:
In zip code 33033 of Homestead, Florida, there are two middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the Miami-Dade school district, presenting a complex picture of contrasting strengths and challenges for parents to consider.
Everglades Preparatory Academy stands out as the higher-performing and more stable school overall, with a state ranking in the 68th percentile and strong proficiency rates in core subjects like 7th Grade Math (82%) and 6th Grade ELA (78%). It also achieves exceptional results on End-of-Course exams, with 89% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 90% in Geometry. However, this school faces a significant challenge with a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.3%, which is above the state average. In contrast, Academir Middle School Of Math And Science has a lower overall state rank (57th percentile) and struggles in many core subjects, yet it achieves perfect 100% proficiency scores in advanced courses like Geometry and Biology 1 EOC exams. Remarkably, despite having a very high free/reduced lunch rate of 84.77%, Academir boasts an incredibly low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.7%, defying typical trends and suggesting a strong school culture around attendance.
Both schools share a critical weakness in 8th Grade Science, where each scored only 35% proficient—well below the district and state averages. Everglades Prep benefits from more resources, spending $11,563 per student with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio, while Academir operates with $7,798 per student and a 25.1:1 ratio. This creates a "resource vs. results" paradox where Academir achieves its perfect advanced exam scores with far fewer resources. For parents, the choice depends on priorities: Everglades Prep offers stronger overall academics and smaller classes but has an attendance problem, while Academir excels in advanced science and math with near-perfect attendance despite economic challenges.
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