The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Math. The lowest is 83% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Calusa Elementary School
Calusa Elementary sits on the western edge of Miami, in a residential neighborhood that reads quite differently from the dense urban core most people picture when they think of this city. The surrounding zip code carries home values well above both the Florida state median and the national median, and rents are also elevated, reflecting the broader pressure on housing costs across South Florida. Year-over-year, values in this area have dipped modestly, in line with a slight softening in the local market, though affordability by conventional measures remains a stretch for many households.
The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and draws a student body that is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the character of southwestern Miami-Dade. A meaningful share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, though it falls below the majority threshold, suggesting a student population that spans a range of economic circumstances. Data on English learner rates and students with individualized education programs were not available in the data we reviewed, so parents with those questions should follow up directly with the school.
The academic results that are available paint a strong picture. On Florida's FAST assessments in the most recent school year, math proficiency across third, fourth, and fifth grades was consistently high, with third graders posting a particularly impressive rate. Reading proficiency in ELA runs somewhat lower but still well above what one typically sees statewide, holding steadily across all three tested grade levels. Fifth-grade science results, measured by the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, were also strong. Taken together, this is a school where the large majority of students are meeting state standards across every tested subject, which is genuinely difficult to sustain across multiple grades and subjects at once.
Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data alone whether performance has been climbing, holding steady, or shifting. A parent wanting to understand trajectory should ask the school directly.
A comparison of Calusa's proficiency against other districts in Miami-Dade County was not calculable from the available data because the county's district comparison set is too small for a meaningful ranking. That context gap does not diminish the school-level results, but it does mean the data here does not tell you how this school stacks up within the broader county landscape.
For families thinking about the district context, a few things are worth knowing. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has been managing a real and sustained enrollment decline, publicly reported as driving a wave of proposed school closures and consolidations across all three of the district's geographic regions, with new configurations including K-8 and K-12 schools under consideration. Families moving into any Miami-Dade neighborhood should ask explicitly about boundary stability, because reassignments tied to these consolidations are an active possibility. Separately, a voter-approved property tax increase tied to teacher pay and school safety funding runs through 2027, at which point it would need renewal. That levy is a direct cost for homeowners in the district's footprint.
On the city itself: Calusa's address puts families in a part of Miami that is suburban in feel, removed from the walkable density of Brickell, Wynwood, or Downtown. The city's major employment anchors, government at multiple levels, large health systems, the University of Miami, and the airline and logistics industry centered at Miami International Airport, are broadly accessible but generally require a car from this part of town. The Metrorail system runs through other parts of the county; this address is not among the more transit-accessible corners of the city.
Program details for Calusa were not included in the data available, so information about enrichment, arts, foreign language, or after-school offerings would need to come from the school directly.
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