The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Math. The lowest is 62% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary
Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary sits in the western reaches of Miami, a predominantly Hispanic school serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The neighborhood places families in a large, dense city with uneven walkability depending on exactly where one lives, though this part of Miami is more suburban in feel than the high-rise corridors of downtown or Brickell. Housing costs in the school's zip code run well above the Florida state midpoint and above the national average, and the estimated monthly mortgage obligation for a buyer at the median local home price is substantial, making this a relatively expensive entry point compared to most of the state. Rents, too, are high relative to typical household income, suggesting affordability is a real constraint for many families in the area.
The student body is nearly entirely Hispanic, which reflects the surrounding community. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school is drawing from working- and lower-middle-income households alongside families with more resources. Data on English learners and students with IEPs was not available in the provided records, so a parent interested in those services would want to inquire directly with the school.
On academics, Finlay's math results are a genuine strength. Across all three tested grades, the share of students scoring proficient on Florida's FAST Math assessment is solidly high by statewide standards, with each grade performing in a range that places the school well above what one might expect given its income profile. Science proficiency at the fifth-grade level, assessed through the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, also comes in at a level that holds up reasonably well.
Reading and language arts tell a different story. ELA proficiency rates across third, fourth, and fifth grades are meaningfully lower than the math results, with fourth grade showing the widest gap from the math scores. The third and fifth grades perform at a moderate level, neither strong nor alarming by statewide context, but the fourth-grade ELA result is noticeably softer. This is a gap worth asking the school about directly, particularly in a community where many students may be navigating literacy development in English alongside Spanish.
Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving, holding, or slipping over time. Program offerings were also not reported in the data provided.
The district context matters here. Miami-Dade is contending with sustained enrollment decline, and publicly reported accounts indicate the district is weighing the closure or consolidation of multiple schools across the system ahead of the next school year. Families moving into the area should ask specifically whether Finlay's attendance boundaries or configuration could be affected, since some restructuring proposals involve shifting grade bands and reassigning students. The school board was expected to act on these proposals by mid-year. Additionally, a voter-approved property tax levy funds teacher pay and school safety in the district through 2027, adding a known cost for homeowners that is set to expire unless renewed.
Miami itself wraps around the school with a full urban infrastructure: an extensive public library system, a free downtown people mover, Metrorail connections, and major employers across government, health care, and education. The city's growth picture is mixed, with the municipality itself adding residents in recent years even as Miami-Dade County as a whole saw a population dip, partly attributed to an immigration slowdown that also reduced district enrollment.
Finlay is a school where math instruction appears to be working at a high level, and where the community is deeply rooted in Hispanic culture and language. The ELA results are worth monitoring and discussing with school leadership, and the broader district's restructuring process is an open variable any incoming family should track.
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