Best High Schools in Zip Code 33143

This analysis examines four high schools in zip code 33143, which serves parts of Miami, Florida, and includes a mix of traditional public, charter, and magnet schools spanning grades 6 through 12, with total enrollment of 1,802 students across three different school districts: Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade.

International Studies Academy High School stands out as the top performer with a perfect 100% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism at 20.3%, and the highest state ranking percentile (61st) among the four schools. In stark contrast, Somerset Academy Key Charter High School struggles significantly, with the lowest state ranking (1-star, 23rd-30th percentile), the highest chronic absenteeism rate (56.9%), and the weakest test scores despite having the lowest poverty rate (1.99%). Mater Lakes Collegiate Academy High School presents a paradox: it has the highest state ranking (71st percentile) and the highest poverty rate (66.32%), yet it also has the lowest spending per student ($7,434) and an extreme student-teacher ratio of 96:1, suggesting a unique instructional model that produces strong results. Slam Boca, the largest school serving grades 6-12, has a solid 3-star rating and a 99.2% graduation rate, but its test scores generally fall below district and state averages, and its chronic absenteeism rate (43.2%) is high.

The most striking finding is that socioeconomic status does not predict success here: the school with the lowest poverty rate has the worst outcomes, while the school with the highest poverty rate leads in state ranking. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with an average rate of 41.5% across these schools—well above the state average of 31.4%—and it strongly correlates with lower graduation rates. Additionally, the two schools in the Broward district have identical district rankings but wildly different school-level outcomes, highlighting that individual school leadership matters more than district-level metrics.