Enrollment
643
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Homestead, FL
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy
Federal NCES profile for Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120039007377
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 80% of Florida schools.
- #14 of 19
- schools in Homestead · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.7:1
- small classes for Florida
- 77.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy has class sizes smaller than 80% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy ranks #14 of 19 schools in Homestead, FL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
77.7%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Homestead, Florida, enrolling 643 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 77.7% of students qualify for free meals, 49% above the Florida average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 643 students, its enrollment sits close to the Florida median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 745 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #458.
Its student body is led by African American (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (45%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 643 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 63.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 17 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Miami-Dade also operates John a. Ferguson Senior High (4,291 students) and Coral Reef Senior High School (3,399 students) alongside Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy compares
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 23% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.7% | ▲ 49% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 643 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
643
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
77.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 20% in Florida - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
63.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,258
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 643 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 17 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 51.6%
Hispanic or Latino 45.1%
White 2.3%
Asian 0.6%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 51.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.0, Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy is about as mixed as the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Miami-Dade, which includes Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy.
$12,258
Per student
+10%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.2%
State 23.3%
Federal 19.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John a. Ferguson Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coral Reef Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Dade Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Miami Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hialeah Gardens Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,291
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 3,399
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 3,382
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 3,100
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 3,009
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~643 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy's federal record.
- Compare Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Miami-Dade's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy
How many students attend Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy?
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy has 643 students enrolled. It is a public school in Homestead, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy is 13.7:1, which is 23% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy?
77.7% of students at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy?
The largest demographic group at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy is African American at 51.6% of enrollment, in Homestead, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy?
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy rank among schools in Homestead?
By Resource Investment Index, Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy ranks #14 of 19 schools in Homestead, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Homestead on the city page.
Is Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy a good school?
Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 80% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Miami-Dade?
Besides Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy, Miami-Dade also operates John a. Ferguson Senior High (4,291 students), Coral Reef Senior High School (3,399 students), and South Dade Senior High School (3,382 students). See the Miami-Dade district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.