The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Math. The lowest is 76% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mater Academy Bay Middle School
Mater Academy Bay Middle School is a charter middle school serving sixth through eighth grade in Cutler Bay, a suburban town in southern Miami-Dade County. It sits within the broader Miami-Dade County Public Schools district but operates independently as a charter, governed by the Mater Academy network rather than directly by the district.
The school's academic results stand out. On Florida's FAST assessments, math proficiency runs very high across all three grade levels, with sixth and seventh grade each performing at nearly the same strong mark and eighth grade just a touch below. Reading and ELA results are also strong, clustered in the mid-to-upper eighties across grades six, seven, and eight. Eighth-grade science results, measured on the statewide science assessment, are also well above what one would typically expect at a middle school serving a majority economically disadvantaged population. These are meaningful numbers because the school draws from a community where more than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that tends to correlate with lower average proficiency statewide. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data whether results have been climbing, stable, or variable.
The school is predominantly Hispanic, reflecting Cutler Bay's and southern Miami-Dade's broader community composition. The enrollment is relatively modest for a middle school of its grade band. Data on English learners and students with IEPs was not reported, so parents whose children have special education needs or language services requirements would want to ask the school directly about the depth and availability of those supports. No discipline, attendance, or chronic absenteeism data was included in the payload.
Mater Academy Bay draws from a car-dependent, single-family neighborhood environment. Cutler Bay itself is not walkable in any meaningful sense, with life organized around driving. The town does have some transit infrastructure, including the South Dade Busway and a free on-demand local van service, but getting to school independently on foot or by bike would be uncommon. The surrounding area offers parks, waterfront access at Black Point Marina on Biscayne Bay, and a regional library branch on SW 211th Street, but for retail or entertainment most residents travel north toward the Dadeland area. A major multi-year redevelopment of the former Southland Mall into a mixed-use transit-oriented district, publicly reported to be underway with groundbreaking on the first residential phase in early 2025, signals that Cutler Bay is actively reshaping its commercial and civic core over the coming years.
For families considering housing, the Cutler Bay zip code shows home values somewhat above the Florida state median, with rents that absorb a substantial share of a typical household's income. Values have softened slightly year over year. The estimated monthly cost of ownership is significant at current mortgage rates, which remain elevated relative to a few years ago.
The parent district context adds a layer of uncertainty worth knowing. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has been experiencing sustained enrollment decline and proposed closing or consolidating a group of schools in spring 2026, including schools in the South Region where Cutler Bay sits. Because Mater Academy Bay is a charter and not a traditional district-assigned school, families should ask the school directly whether any of these consolidation or closure proposals affect it or nearby feeder schools. The district also passed a voter-approved tax increase that funds teacher pay and campus safety; as a charter, whether and how Mater Academy Bay benefits from that funding is worth confirming with the school. A statewide cell phone policy is also taking shape, with Miami-Dade expected to be bound by a Florida-wide rule requiring a formal policy by end of 2026.
Program data was not available in the payload, so it is not possible to describe electives, extracurriculars, or enrichment offerings from this source. A family whose student has particular interests, from arts to athletics to academic competitions, would want to explore that directly with the school. Graduation rate does not apply here, as this is a middle school.
What the data does support is a school producing strong tested academic outcomes for a middle school student body that is majority economically disadvantaged and predominantly Hispanic, within a growing, car-oriented suburb that is mid-transition as a community.
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