Summary:
In zip code 33140 (Miami Beach, FL), there is one middle school, Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 893 students as part of the Miami-Dade school district.
Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School presents a "two-schools" dynamic: it is a powerhouse for advanced coursework but struggles with grade-level math. In high school-level End-of-Course (EOC) exams, the school significantly outperforms district and state averages, with 90% proficiency in Biology 1 and 86% in Geometry for the 2025-2026 school year. However, grade-level math proficiency on FAST exams is a major concern, with 6th grade at 57%, 7th grade at 42%, and 8th grade at 45%—all well below district and state averages. The school's state ranking is near the 50th percentile (599th out of 1,216 schools, 3 stars), and chronic absenteeism sits at 29.3%, slightly above the district average. Per-student spending is $9,289, but the student-teacher ratio is high at 25.5:1, which may limit individualized instruction.
Key takeaways for parents include the school's exceptional advanced programs, particularly in Biology and Geometry, which suggest strong opportunities for high-achieving students. However, the persistent underperformance in grade-level math, especially the sharp decline in 8th-grade math to 28% in 2024-2025, is a red flag. The high student-teacher ratio despite notable spending indicates funds may be directed toward specialized programs rather than reducing class sizes. Overall, this school offers a strong honors track but may require additional support for students in core grade-level subjects, particularly math.
Thank you for your feedback!