The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Math. The lowest is 73% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Dante B. Fascell Elementary School
Dante B. Fascell Elementary sits on SW 80th Street in the western reaches of Miami, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The surrounding area is residential Miami, well removed from the downtown core and the densely walkable neighborhoods closer to Biscayne Bay. Families here are largely drawing on a suburban-flavored pocket of a vast urban district.
The school is overwhelmingly Hispanic in its student composition, reflecting the demographic character of this part of Miami-Dade. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this in a higher-need economic tier, though the school's test results are worth examining in that context.
On Florida's FAST assessments in the most recent year, Fascell posted math proficiency rates that climb through the grade levels, from the mid-seventies in third grade to the low eighties by fifth. Reading follows a similar upward arc, with third grade in the upper sixties and fifth grade approaching eighty percent. Fifth-grade science, measured by the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, came in near the same strong range as fifth-grade math. These are solid results, particularly the upper-grade numbers, and the pattern of improvement from third to fifth grade across both subjects is worth noting as a positive signal. No multi-year trend data was available in this dataset, so it is not possible to say whether scores have been rising or holding steady over time. A parent may want to ask the school directly about trend data and how scores vary among different student groups, since subgroup breakdowns were not provided here.
IEP rates and English learner data were not reported in this dataset, so families of children with special needs or language support needs will want to inquire with the school or the district about those specific programs and staffing.
Fascell is part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country. A few district-level developments matter directly for families. Voters approved a property-tax referendum that raises school taxes for homeowners in the district through at least 2027, with the stated purpose of funding teacher pay and school safety staffing. On a more urgent note, the district is navigating a real and sustained enrollment decline. Publicly reported figures indicate that thousands of students have left the system over recent years, and in early 2026 the district proposed closing or consolidating up to nine schools across the county's three regions, with reconfigured grade structures potentially emerging from those decisions. Families moving into this part of Miami-Dade should be aware that school assignments and attendance boundaries could shift before or during their child's elementary years, and it is worth confirming Fascell's current status directly with the district. On cell phones, Miami-Dade initially chose an educational rather than restrictive approach, but state legislation is pushing toward a districtwide prohibition on phone use during the school day by the end of 2026.
Housing near the school carries a price tag above the Florida state median and well above the national median, with values that have dipped modestly year over year. Rents in the zip code are also slightly down from the prior year but remain at a level that places rent-to-income ratios in a stretched range by national standards. The combination of elevated home prices and current mortgage rates means the cost of buying near this school is a meaningful consideration for families.
The broader Miami context adds texture. Miami-Dade is a county with a large, layered transit system, strong concentrations of healthcare and education employers, and neighborhoods that vary enormously in character from block to block. The county's population dynamics are shifting, with publicly reported declines attributed partly to an immigration slowdown, which feeds directly into the district's enrollment pressures. Program-specific offerings at Fascell were not available in this data, so parents seeking information on gifted services, arts, or enrichment programs should contact the school directly.
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