The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mater Academy of International Studies
Mater Academy of International Studies is a charter elementary school in Miami's urban core, sitting in the zip code that covers the Allapattah and nearby neighborhoods just northwest of downtown. It serves kindergarten through fifth grade, draws from the surrounding community, and operates within Miami-Dade County Public Schools as its authorizing district.
The school's student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the character of the surrounding neighborhood. The vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this among higher-poverty campuses by that measure. Data on English learner enrollment and students with IEPs was not available in what we reviewed, so parents of children who may need those services should ask the school directly.
On Florida's state assessments, the picture is mixed but contains some clear strengths. In math, fourth graders posted a notably strong proficiency rate, well above the majority threshold. Third and fifth grade math results were also solidly above the halfway mark, which is a genuine positive for a school serving a high-poverty population. ELA results are softer: third grade reading came in below half of students proficient, while fourth and fifth grades improved considerably, with fourth grade landing above two-thirds. Science at the fifth grade level came in right at the halfway point. Trend data across years was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data alone whether the school is moving up, holding steady, or slipping. A parent would be reasonable to ask the school about its trajectory and what it is doing to strengthen reading, particularly at the early grades.
No detailed program information was provided, despite what the name "International Studies" suggests. Parents interested in what the international studies component actually means in practice, whether that is a language immersion track, a global-studies curriculum, or something else, should contact the school directly. The data we reviewed does not describe the program's structure.
The school is housed in the densely built Miami urban environment. The surrounding city is highly walkable, with a free elevated transit loop serving downtown and connections to broader rapid transit. Government, health care, and education anchor Miami's employment base, and the city's cultural mix, particularly its Latin American character, is woven into daily neighborhood life around the school.
For families considering a move, housing near this school sits well above the Florida statewide median and well above the national median. Rents are high enough that rent-to-income strain is a real consideration for many households, and rents have continued to tick upward in recent months even as home prices have edged slightly downward year over year. Buying a home near this school is a significant financial commitment by any standard measure.
At the district level, Miami-Dade is managing a publicly reported enrollment decline, and in spring 2026 the district proposed closing or consolidating up to nine schools, with boundary changes expected. Families enrolling now should be aware that assignment boundaries and school configurations may shift. The 2022 voter-approved property tax that funds teacher pay and school safety expires in 2027, and whether it is renewed will affect district compensation going forward. A statewide cell phone policy covering the full school day is also working its way through the Florida legislature and is expected to be in place by the end of 2026.
For a family seeking an urban charter elementary in a predominantly Hispanic community, with math results that outperform what many comparably resourced schools show, Mater Academy of International Studies is worth a close look. The reading results at the lower grades are a legitimate open question, and the school's international studies identity deserves a direct conversation to understand what it means on the ground.
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