The document, created by the Partnership for Miami, which brings together some of the city’s top business figures, presents results concerning academic achievements and recommendations for improving education in Miami. The stated objectives are to discover methods for establishing high-quality schools, enhancing teacher and school leader development, reinforcing senior leadership, and enabling families to make more informed choices.
Miami Partnership, founded nearly two years ago following the recommendation of Andre Dua, the managing partner at McKinsey & Company, adopts similar structures to the Partnership for New York City, which brings together chief executives from JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.
The team includes local business executives such as Eric Woolworth, president of the Miami Heat; Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel; Bo Boulenger, president and CEO of Baptist Health, and Tom Garfinkel, vice chairman, CEO, and president of the Miami Dolphins.
Their objective: to create a coalition aimed at enhancing Miami into a globally recognized city that is available to all by upgrading education, housing, and affordability.
Their newly published report, Beyond the Grade – A Detailed Examination of Miami’s K-12 System, was provided to “important stakeholders” including Miami-Dade superintendent Jose Dotres and school board officials.
The report examines the drop in student performance, referencing the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores. Students in Miami-Dade County perform better than both national and state averages in fourth-grade math. However, in 2024, 46 percent of eighth graders achieved the lowest level in math; 37 percent of fourth graders and 35 percent of eighth graders were below basic in reading, according to the report.
The report also examines Florida’s FAST Assessment outcomes.
As per the report, although Miami’s public high schools have a 92% graduation rate (including both district and public charter schools), fewer than two-thirds of students achieved grade level or higher on the 10th-grade language arts test. Fewer than half scored at grade level or above on the geometry end-of-course exam.
The report indicates that Miami needs to guarantee that every student attains competence in math and English Language Arts at an early stage, or face significant drops.
“If over 40 percent of our students are not reading at their grade level and not performing well in math, then it’s clear we can improve,” said Ana-Marie Codina, CEO of Codina Partners and a member of the Partnership for Miami board.
Codina, who established two charter schools in Doral and is the parent of three children, mentioned that even students at well-funded private institutions faced challenges during the pandemic.
What will the next generation of workers look like, considering so many children were left behind during that time and have yet to catch up?
She mentioned that education serves as the base for both society and the employment sector.
“At the conclusion of the day, our goal is for this city to thrive, as that benefits commerce, and a significant part of that involves ensuring we have a Miami that serves everyone,” she stated.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools did not provide a statement regarding the Beyond the Grade report.
Re-focusing resources
Enrollment has emerged as a critical concern. For this school year, Miami-Dade’s student numbers decreased by approximately 13,000. As per the report, the district’s overall utilization rate stood at 69 percent by spring 2025, with certain areas having schools functioning at as little as 56 percent capacity, while others operated at 95 percent.
The report also highlights that, over time, enrollment in public schools has declined while charter school enrollments have risen. If these trends persist, the district’s portion of the county’s school-age population might fall from 59 percent now to 41 percent by 2035—a reduction in enrollment from approximately 252,000 to 173,000 students, as stated in the report.
The report highlights that even with decreasing numbers of students, the district needs to keep offering top-notch choices.
Raul Moas, the head of the Partnership for Miami and former senior director at the Knight Foundation, suggests that copying successful school models might be a solution. He highlighted the International Baccalaureate Dual Language Program at Ada Merritt K-8 Center as one instance.
The collaboration revealed in May a program aimed at increasing student numbers at six top-performing schools: Crestview Elementary, Phyllis Miller Elementary, Snapper Creek Elementary, Zora Neale Hurston Elementary, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary, and Southwood Middle School.
“We are open to discussing with the district how to make the most of our resources and achieve a better return on investment for public education funding,” said Moas.
Since under-enrolled schools frequently have insufficient funds for counselors or reading experts, Moas contended that using schools more effectively could lead to better results:
“When you can more effectively distribute resources, you can adequately staff a school,” said Moas.
He recommended focusing financial support on smaller schools that have demonstrated positive results.
Jaret Davis, senior vice president at Greenberg Traurig and a graduate of Miami-Dade Public Schools, mentioned that one of his reasons for joining the Partnership is to ensure that both existing and prospective employees have access to quality services, such as top-notch public schools.
“They need to persuade employees to relocate here,” Davis stated, adding that businesses consider housing costs, transportation options, and school quality before making a move.
He highlighted reduced attention to governance structures — district versus charter — and increased emphasis on making sure children can access top-notch schools.
The collaboration has already begun implementing its mission.
The group has committed $2 million to the Lucy Project, an educational effort that introduces trained reading aides into kindergarten classrooms. The contribution, provided by Ken Griffin of Citadel, will support the program in four Miami-Dade schools as a pilot to evaluate the approach.
The report also highlights the significance of maintaining a steady supply of qualified educators, as well as making sure that district leadership is equipped to manage a school district within a quickly changing educational environment. The report also emphasizes the value of involving parents and developing schools and programs that meet the needs expressed by families.
“We are dedicated to the long-term approach, and we are committed to our part in terms of monitoring and management,” said Moas.
