Summary:
In zip code 33177, two middle schools serve grades 6-8 within the Miami-Dade school district, presenting a stark contrast in performance and demographics that offers important insights for parents.
Herbert A. Ammons Middle School is the standout performer, ranking in the top 3% of all Florida middle schools with a 5-star rating. It boasts exceptional academic proficiency, with average ELA scores around 94% and math scores near 88%, far exceeding district and state averages. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at just 6.9%, and only 33% of its 999 students qualify for free or reduced lunch. In contrast, Somerset Academy Charter Middle School serves 594 students with a 3-star rating and a 66th percentile state rank. While Somerset performs above district averages in several areas, its chronic absenteeism rate of 26.9% is nearly four times higher than Ammons, and 79% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Despite spending $1,569 more per student than Ammons, Somerset's overall proficiency rates are significantly lower, particularly in 8th grade science where Ammons scores 84% compared to Somerset's 32%.
The key takeaway for parents is that Ammons Middle provides an elite, high-achieving environment with strong student engagement and low poverty indicators, while Somerset Academy does a commendable job supporting a high-needs population but struggles with absenteeism and grade-level proficiency. Both schools offer advanced coursework in subjects like Algebra and Biology, but the gap in general academic performance is substantial. Parents should consider these factors carefully when choosing between these two very different educational experiences within the same zip code.
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