The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Math. The lowest is 74% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mater Academy Bay Biscayne North Miami Elementary School
Mater Academy Bay Biscayne North Miami Elementary is a charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade on NE 17th Avenue in North Miami, Florida, operating within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Its enrollment is mid-sized for a K-5 campus.
The school's academic results on Florida's FAST assessments are a clear strength. Math proficiency across the three tested grades runs well above what most Florida elementary schools post, with third grade scoring especially high and fourth and fifth grade following closely behind. ELA results are similarly solid, with fourth and fifth grade reaching into the mid-to-upper range and third grade not far behind. Fifth-grade science scores, measured by the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, match the upper-end ELA performance. Taken together, across every tested grade and subject, the school sits meaningfully above average for the state. A comparison index against other districts in Miami-Dade County was not generated because the county's comparison set had too few districts for a statistically valid ranking, so readers should weight the statewide picture as the relevant reference.
The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial White minority and smaller Black and Asian populations. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is well below what is common for Miami-Dade schools, meaning the school draws a relatively economically mixed-to-advantaged family base. Data on English learner rates and students with IEPs were not reported, so parents of children who may need those supports should ask the school directly what services are available and at what capacity.
No program or course-access data was provided, which is worth probing with the school directly, particularly for families interested in enrichment, arts, or intervention programs. Attendance and chronic absenteeism data were also absent from the available records.
The school sits in North Miami, a culturally diverse suburban city in northeast Miami-Dade County, positioned roughly ten miles north of the city of Miami. Neighborhoods range from midcentury single-family blocks to waterfront enclaves near Biscayne Bay. The area is generally more affordable than Miami Beach or downtown Miami, though housing values in the surrounding zip code have pulled back modestly year over year while still sitting below the Florida statewide median. Rents in the area are well above the national median household income's comfortable threshold, with rent-to-income ratios that reflect the broader South Florida affordability squeeze. North Miami is in an active development phase, anchored by a large master-planned community along Biscayne Boulevard that will add many hundreds of residences over the next few years. High-rise growth has generated community debate, with some residents challenging zoning practices through litigation.
At the district level, Miami-Dade County Public Schools is managing a sustained enrollment decline that has prompted proposals to close or consolidate up to nine schools for the coming year. Families moving into the area should be aware that boundary assignments and grade configurations may shift, though this elementary is a charter school and its enrollment operates outside the traditional district assignment process. The district also passed a voter-approved property tax increase a few years ago to fund teacher compensation and school safety; that levy is set to expire in 2027 unless renewed, which is a factor for homeowners. Florida is also moving toward a stricter statewide cell phone policy for the school day, with a required policy in place by the end of 2026.
For a family seeking a charter elementary with strong tested academic outcomes, a relatively low poverty-rate peer environment, and access to a culturally rich and actively growing urban neighborhood, this school offers a compelling academic track record. The gaps in program and support-services data mean parents should plan a direct conversation with the school before enrolling a child with specialized needs.
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