Summary:
The 15 schools in Miami's 33142 zip code, part of the Miami-Dade district, serve a predominantly elementary-focused community with 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools, but most face significant challenges with chronic absenteeism and test scores well below state averages.
The standout academic performer is Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary School, ranking in the 66th percentile statewide with exceptional math proficiency (92% in 4th grade) and low chronic absenteeism (25.8%). In contrast, Charles R. Drew K-8 Center shows a split profile—excelling in advanced high school courses like Biology 1 (95% proficient) while struggling with elementary FAST scores (22% in 4th-grade ELA). Mater International Academy faces the highest poverty rate (98.32% free/reduced lunch) and lowest per-student spending ($9,951), yet shows mixed results with some early-grade bright spots. The middle schools, Brownsville Middle School and Georgia Jones Ayers Middle School, rank in the bottom 13th percentile, revealing a "middle school cliff" where performance drops sharply from top elementary schools. Miami Jackson Senior High School is in crisis with a 65.7% chronic absenteeism rate—double the state average—and test scores 15-20 points below district averages, despite a high graduation rate likely driven by credit recovery.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis, averaging 39.5% across the zip code, far exceeding the state's 31.4%. The two alternative schools, Juvenile Justice Center Alt Educational and Pace Center For Girls, serve specialized populations and are not comparable to traditional schools. Overall, 10 of 12 ranked schools fall into the 1-star or 0-star category, but Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary proves high performance is possible even with a 64.63% poverty rate, offering a model for improvement through consistent attendance and strong academics across all subjects.
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