Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary-level schools in Miami, Florida, zip code 33150, all part of the Miami-Dade County Public School District, serving predominantly low-income families with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 71.1%.
Van E. Blanton Elementary School stands out as the top performer in the area, ranking in the 40th percentile statewide for 2025-2026 and boasting the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 22.3%—well below both district and state averages. Its 4th-grade math proficiency (88%) far exceeds the district average (71%). Edison Park K-8 Center is a unique outlier, achieving an exceptional 95% proficiency on the Algebra 1 EOC exam, though its lower elementary grades struggle compared to district norms. Jesse J. McCrary Junior Elementary School is the most improved school, jumping from the 13th to the 38th percentile in a single year, with 4th-grade ELA scores soaring from 35% to 65%. Arcola Lake Elementary School and Holmes Elementary School perform in the lower half of the state, while Thena Crowder Early Childhood Diagnostic Special Education serves a specialized role with a very low student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1.
Key takeaways for parents: Math is a relative strength across these schools, with several exceeding district averages in 4th-grade math. Chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge, averaging 32.8% across the area, and the data strongly suggests that schools with lower absentee rates achieve higher academic results. Higher spending per student does not guarantee better performance, as Van E. Blanton outperforms schools with larger budgets. Overall, the schools in this zip code rank in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, but individual schools like Van E. Blanton and the rapidly improving Jesse J. McCrary offer bright spots for families seeking strong academic environments.
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