- Enrollment
- 4,291
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Miami, FL
Tropical Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Tropical Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120039000527
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Tropical Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of Florida schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Florida schools.
- #38 of 161
- schools in Miami · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.1:1
- small classes for Florida
- 58.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Tropical Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 84% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Tropical Elementary School ranks #38 of 161 schools in Miami, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Tropical Elementary School held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 120039000527 · Miami, FL Other · SMALL · TRAD
367 enr · 13.1:1 · 58.8% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: John a. Ferguson Senior High (4,291 students)
Tropical Elementary School held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Tropical Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John a. Fergus
John a. Ferguson Senior High
4,291 students
- Coral Reef Sen
Coral Reef Senior High School
3,399 students
- South Dade Sen
South Dade Senior High School
3,382 students
- Miami Senior H
Miami Senior High School
3,100 students
- Hialeah Garden
Hialeah Gardens Senior High School
3,009 students
- This school 367
Tropical Elementary School
367 students
What this shows Tropical Elementary School reports 367 students on the CCD universe file.
How Tropical Elementary School compares
Tropical Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 26% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.8% | ▲ 13% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 367 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
367
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 16% in Florida - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,138
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
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 367 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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.8%
White 1.1%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.3, Tropical Elementary School is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Miami-Dade reports $13,138 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Tropical Elementary School 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 | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Miami Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hialeah Gardens Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Tropical Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~367 students)
Frequently asked questions about Tropical Elementary School
How many students attend Tropical Elementary School?
Tropical Elementary School has 367 students enrolled. It is a public school in Miami, FL. CCD year-over-year: 396 (2022-23) → 406 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tropical Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Tropical Elementary School is 13.1:1, which is 26% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 17% 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 Tropical Elementary School?
58.8% of students at Tropical Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Tropical Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Tropical Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 97.8% of enrollment, in Miami, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Tropical Elementary School?
Tropical Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Tropical Elementary School rank among schools in Miami?
By Resource Investment Index, Tropical Elementary School ranks #38 of 161 schools in Miami, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Miami on the city page.
What other schools are in Miami-Dade?
Besides Tropical Elementary School, 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.