The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lamar Louise Curry Middle School
Lamar Louise Curry Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in the southwestern reaches of Miami, part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. The school sits in a predominantly residential part of the city, well removed from the downtown core, and draws a student body that is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the surrounding community's demographic character. Close to half of enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a substantial share of families with limited economic resources. Data on English learner and special education rates were not available in this dataset.
On the Florida FAST assessments administered in the most recent school year, Curry's reading and math results present a mixed picture. Sixth-grade math proficiency is strong by state standards, and eighth-grade math tracks closely behind it, both sitting well above the midpoint of what might be expected statewide. Seventh-grade math, by contrast, dips noticeably below those two grades, which is a gap a parent may want to ask the school about directly. In ELA, seventh and eighth grade perform at broadly similar levels, while sixth grade lags somewhat behind, though all three grades fall in a moderate range rather than at either extreme. The science result for eighth graders, the only grade at which Florida tests science at the middle level, is the weakest number in the set, with fewer than half of students reaching proficiency. That is worth watching and worth raising with the school.
Trend data was not available, so there is no way from this dataset to say whether these results are improving, holding steady, or slipping. The comparison framework placed this school within Miami-Dade County, but the county cohort used for benchmarking was too small to produce a meaningful relative position, so no county-level comparison is available here.
Graduation rate does not apply to a middle school. Program-specific offerings, staffing ratios, attendance, and discipline data were not included in the data available for this school, which leaves meaningful gaps for a parent trying to assess the full environment. The school's own website would be the best place to investigate extracurriculars, specialized tracks, counseling support, and what supports exist for students who are still working toward grade-level proficiency.
The surrounding Miami housing market is expensive, carrying a typical home value well above both the state and national medians, with rents that consume a substantial share of a median income. The rent-to-income ratio here runs high even by Miami-Dade standards, and while home values have ticked slightly downward year over year, affordability remains a real constraint for families choosing where to live.
At the district level, a few developments are directly relevant to families. Enrollment across Miami-Dade has declined sharply, and publicly reported coverage indicates that in spring 2026 the district proposed closing or consolidating up to nine schools, including reconfiguring some into new grade structures such as K-8 and 6-12 schools. Families moving into the area should confirm Curry's current boundary status and whether any reassignment proposals affect this school specifically. A voter-approved property tax measure, passed in late 2022, raised the school tax rate to fund teacher pay and campus security, with that higher rate set to expire unless voters renew it in 2027. On phone policy, Miami-Dade had as of 2024 chosen a parental-involvement and screen-time education approach rather than an outright ban, though state legislation was moving toward a stricter day-long restriction with a statewide policy required by the end of 2026.
Miami itself provides the broader context: a dense, culturally layered city where the Metrorail and a free Metromover system connect neighborhoods, where walkability varies dramatically by area, and where the economy is anchored by government, health care, education institutions, and a large hospitality and tourism sector. The southwestern neighborhood where Curry sits is more residential and car-dependent than the downtown core, with the civic amenities of central Miami accessible but requiring transit or a drive.
See more original research from School Decision →