The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Somerset Arts Academy
Somerset Arts Academy sits on North Krome Avenue in Homestead, one of the fastest-growing communities at the southern edge of Miami-Dade County. It is a charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, drawing from a city that has expanded steadily through new master-planned neighborhoods while retaining a small-town character anchored by its historic downtown. The school operates under the Miami-Dade district umbrella, which means families should be aware of district-level dynamics even as the charter operates somewhat independently.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and a modest Black enrollment, reflecting the demographic composition of Homestead and the surrounding South Miami-Dade communities. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this among schools serving a high-poverty population by national standards. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available in what we reviewed, so parents with children who may need those services would want to ask the school directly about caseloads, staffing, and how services are structured.
On Florida's statewide FAST assessments, the school's results are genuinely mixed and worth examining by grade. In ELA, the picture strengthens noticeably as students move through the upper grades: third-graders scored at a level roughly consistent with statewide averages, fourth-graders came in above that, and fifth-graders posted a notably strong result that places them well above mid-range. Math tells a somewhat different story, with solid scores in fourth grade and slightly more modest results in third and fifth, though all three grade levels clear what would be considered a majority-proficient threshold. Fifth-grade science scores were strong. The comparison framework for placing this school against county peers wasn't usable given the limited number of schools in the comparison set, so precise peer positioning isn't available. Prior-year trend data was also not available, so whether these results represent improvement, stability, or decline is something a parent would need to ask the school.
The arts focus is embedded in the school's name and its charter identity, and publicly reported information describes it as a school organized around arts integration. For families specifically seeking an elementary experience where the arts are central to the daily curriculum rather than an occasional add-on, this is the distinguishing feature of the school. What specific disciplines, instructional approaches, and performance or exhibition opportunities that entails is worth a direct conversation with school leadership.
The broader Homestead context shapes daily life for families here. Housing near the school runs considerably above both the Florida statewide median and the national median, and the rent-to-income ratio in the area is high enough that affordability is a real consideration. The city is actively adding density, with new single-family communities, townhome developments, and workforce housing proposals in the pipeline. Getting around requires a car for most trips outside the historic downtown. The city does operate a trolley connecting neighborhoods, schools, shopping, and transit stations, and the South Dade TransitWay provides bus rapid transit north toward Dadeland for families without reliable transportation.
At the Miami-Dade district level, two things stand out for families. First, voters approved a property-tax measure to fund teacher pay and school safety staffing; it is set to expire in 2027 unless renewed, and its continuation is not guaranteed. Second, the district is managing a sustained enrollment decline that has prompted proposals to close or consolidate schools across all three regions, with some new school configurations emerging. Charter schools are not automatically immune to the ripple effects of those boundary and demographic shifts, and a family choosing Somerset Arts Academy should follow whether district-level changes affect enrollment pipelines or resource allocation in the area.
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