Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 33185

Zip code 33185 in Miami, Florida, is served by two middle schools for grades 6-8: Lamar Louise Curry Middle School and Pinecrest Academy Charter Middle School, both part of the Miami-Dade school district.

Pinecrest Academy Charter Middle School is the standout school in this area, ranking in the top 10% of all Florida middle schools (90th percentile, 5 stars), while Lamar Louise Curry Middle School ranks in the top 37% (63rd percentile, 3 stars). Pinecrest Academy achieves higher proficiency in every subject, with a particularly striking gap in math: 87% average math proficiency compared to Curry's 59%. This success is notable because Pinecrest Academy does so with a higher student-teacher ratio (23.5:1 vs. 19.9:1) and lower per-student spending ($10,240 vs. $11,698), suggesting a highly effective educational model. Pinecrest Academy also excels in advanced coursework, achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 95% in Algebra 1 End-of-Course exams.

Both schools have chronic absenteeism rates below the district and state averages, though Pinecrest Academy's lower rate (17.3% vs. 21.1%) correlates with its higher performance. The data shows that Pinecrest Academy is successfully serving a student body with a higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (58.1% vs. 44.99%) while dramatically outperforming its local counterpart. For parents in zip code 33185, Pinecrest Academy Charter Middle School clearly offers a superior academic environment, especially in mathematics, while Lamar Louise Curry Middle School provides a solid, above-average option within the traditional public school system.