The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Math. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Arcola Lake Elementary School
Arcola Lake Elementary sits on NW 81st Street in Miami's northwest corridor, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a regular public school within Miami-Dade County Public Schools, one of the largest urban districts in the country.
The school's student body is majority Black and substantially Hispanic, with a large share of families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic character of the surrounding neighborhood. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available in the data provided, so families with children who need those supports may want to ask the school directly about service levels and staffing.
On Florida's state assessments, the picture is mixed by grade and subject. Math proficiency runs ahead of reading across tested grades, with the middle elementary grades showing the stronger math results. Reading proficiency in the tested grades sits in the low-to-mid fifties range, while fifth-grade science proficiency is the weakest point in the data, landing well below the math and ELA figures. None of these results are dramatically low by the standards of high-poverty urban schools, but they are below where many families would want to see them. A parent may want to ask what the school is doing in science specifically and how it supports students who are reading below grade level. Multi-year trend data was not available, so whether these results represent improvement, stability, or decline is not something the data can answer.
No program offerings data was included for Arcola Lake, so there is no information about after-school enrichment, arts, language, or other specialty programming. That is worth a direct inquiry.
The school operates in a neighborhood where the housing market is priced well above the Florida statewide benchmark and considerably above the national median, though values have edged slightly downward over the past year. Rents in the surrounding zip code consume a substantial share of typical household income, which is a real financial pressure for families in this part of Miami. The neighborhood is dense and walkable by Miami standards, with transit access through the broader Metrorail and Metrobus network, though the school's specific walkability is not separately characterized in the data.
The broader district context matters for any family thinking about enrollment stability. Miami-Dade has been experiencing a meaningful enrollment decline, driven partly by an immigration slowdown, and publicly reported accounts indicate the district proposed closing or consolidating up to nine schools heading into the next school year. Families moving to the area should be aware that school boundaries and grade configurations are actively being reconsidered. Whether Arcola Lake is among the affected schools is not stated in the available data, but the reorganization is district-wide and touches all three regions. The district's attendance boundary process was still underway at the time this data was assembled, so confirming assignment directly with the district is advisable before making housing decisions.
On funding, Miami-Dade voters approved a property tax referendum that directs revenue toward teacher pay and campus safety staffing. That tax rate holds through 2027, when voters would need to renew it. For homeowners in the attendance zone, it is an ongoing cost; for families evaluating school quality, it represents a continuing local investment in compensation and security.
No chronic absenteeism or discipline data was available, and the school's environment section carried no staffing or attendance figures, so the data cannot characterize classroom stability or teacher retention directly.
Arcola Lake is a neighborhood elementary school in a dense, economically stressed part of Miami, with math results that are encouraging relative to its context and reading and science results that leave room for growth. Families for whom academic acceleration and enrichment programming are primary concerns may want to explore the district's magnet and choice options alongside their neighborhood assignment.
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