Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary-level schools in Miami, FL, zip code 33147, all part of the Miami-Dade school district, serving grades from PK-5 to K-8 with a total of 1,621 students and a high level of economic disadvantage.
The standout school in this area is Liberty City Elementary School, which earned a 2-star rating and ranks in the 47th percentile statewide, a dramatic improvement from its 1-star ranking two years prior. Its math scores are exceptionally strong, outperforming district and state averages in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. In contrast, Poinciana Park Elementary School is the most challenged, with the smallest enrollment (169), the highest chronic absenteeism rate (53.8%), and the lowest academic rankings in the bottom 2% of Florida elementary schools. The two K-8 centers, Dr. Henry W. Mack/West Little River K-8 Center and Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center, show a fascinating pattern: while their elementary-level scores are mixed, their middle school and end-of-course exam scores (like 100% proficiency in Algebra 1 EOC at Dr. Mack) often exceed district and state averages. Broadmoor Elementary School has the lowest per-student spending ($14,143) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (27.8%), closest to the district average.
Chronic absenteeism is the defining challenge across the zip code, with four out of five schools having rates above 40%, directly linked to low academic performance. Spending does not equal success: Poinciana Park spends over $25,000 per student—the highest—yet is the lowest-performing, while Liberty City spends a mid-range amount ($18,188) and achieves the best results. Liberty City's remarkable turnaround from the 20th to the 47th percentile in two years offers a model for improvement, warranting investigation into its specific strategies.
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