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GreatSchools Rating

Banyan Elementary School

Public | PK-5 | 379 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
No new ratings
2010:
No new ratings

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13 reviews of this school


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Posted February 1, 2012

My sister, brother and I all went to Banyan, now my daughter is in the 1st grade there and LOVES it! Its an amazing school an the teachers love what they do.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 1, 2009

very good and safe keeps in touch with the parents and teacher.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 14, 2008

The Principle and Assist Principle are not and advocate for the children of the shcool. I had a horrific experience with them and acturally had to remove my child from the shcool
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 5, 2007

When the academic year started I was very concern, because at that point I preferred my only one kid be attending to a private school. Now I am pleased to have her at Banyan. The staff is very helpful, teachers are concern about your child and their progress, and I believe that Banyan has been a good election. My seven years old daughter loves her school because 'they take good care of everybody, it is fun to be there, and they are loving people'. The only 'but' for me is the poor extracurricular activities Banyan offers. I hope we can count with a 'complete school' by next year. Regarding discipline I think the school is great, yet I think that safety (during classes time)is easy vulnerable. We as Banyan Elementary School must have special care about this sensitive matter.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 2, 2007

My 2 kids have been in this school and I think this is an awesome school. The teachers are great, the school is great, parents are very involved. My son's 5th great prom was coordinated by the parents. I love this school!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 26, 2007

I had my kids in Banyan and with 3 months into the school year I pulled them out and put them in private school. The principal, asst. principal and school counselor don't want to help parents with problems with teacher. All they want to do is put kids in ESE classes to get more 'funding' for the school. Thats one big word for them. 'Funding'
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 12, 2007

I have 3 children, 2 of them already left Banyan. I am very happy with my child's teacher.The staff is very envolved. Academic and Safety are very important in Banyan. Thanks to the programs that Banyan has offer thru the years to all my children have taken advantage of it.The key is get involved. Be always on top.Communicate with your teachers. Banyan has a great Parent Academy, those are tools to help our child. I just would like them to have other hours for parents who work and can not attend in
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 28, 2006

When my son started, the teacher was caring and helpful. The next year, the teacher did not want to be bothered going the extra mile. This school is terrible. The principal is not involved.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 24, 2006

This school is an excellent school that provides great attention to all their students. Teachers are highly involved with their students and they are greatly dedicated in all their work.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 9, 2006

When my child started, I was very happy with the quality of education she seemed to be receiving. As the years have progressed, the school has regressed in their caring for the students' wellbeing and parent involvement. The current administration is all about them and how they look, not to the parents, but to their 'VIPS'. Concerned parents are a nuissance to them and are pushed aside for the most part if they voice real concerns. While I was happy when my daughter started, I (along with many other parents) can't wait for to my child to finish and be done. It's a shame because the school was once one of the best Elementaries in the area... current school administration has managed to ruin that.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted October 7, 2005

My three children have attended banyan since they were 5 years old. The teachers are well qualified and show a true interest in their students' academic and social growth. The classes are not too crowded with only about 350 students total in the entire school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 4, 2005

I think this school is great, the teacher are amazing and the education here is outstanding. Kids are very well prepeared when they end the school year. The gifted program was a very strong point for this school, that is the reason our kid was transfered there. Saddly in recent years changes were made and now the gifted center is not as stronge as it used to be. We hope it returns were it belongs, at the top of the the Miami Gifted Programs.
—Submitted by Maria, a parent


Posted November 21, 2004

The gifted program which what I was in, is top notch, one of the first in Miami. The professors are knowledgeable, make you feel part of the community and teach you very advanced things. The program tries to make students know that learning is important, teaches them how to be a good citizen and teaches them values and strategies for their future setting up an effective base for their life. The administration though seemed a bit lost and bit disorganized. Mr. Veber is a man of great character and Mrs.Summers is a great motivator.
—Submitted by Franco Caliz, a former student


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 58% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
68%

2011

 
 
72%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 56% in 2012.

56 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
82%

2011

 
 
75%
Scale: % level 3, 4, or 5

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Florida used the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0) to test students in grades 3 through 10 in reading, 3 through 8 in math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science. The FCAT 2.0 is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Florida. The FCAT 2.0 has 5 achievement levels, with level 1 being the lowest and level 5 the highest. Florida considers scores of level 3 and higher to be on or above grade level. The goal is for all students to score at or above level 3.

See Florida's state standards

Source: Florida Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 60% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
74%

2011

 
 
73%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 62% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
68%

2011

 
 
60%
Scale: % level 3, 4, or 5

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Florida used the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0) to test students in grades 3 through 10 in reading, 3 through 8 in math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science. The FCAT 2.0 is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Florida. The FCAT 2.0 has 5 achievement levels, with level 1 being the lowest and level 5 the highest. Florida considers scores of level 3 and higher to be on or above grade level. The goal is for all students to score at or above level 3.

See Florida's state standards

Source: Florida Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 57% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
74%

2011

 
 
65%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 61% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
68%

2011

 
 
56%
Science

The state average for Science was 51% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
61%
Scale: % level 3, 4, or 5

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Florida used the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0) to test students in grades 3 through 10 in reading, 3 through 8 in math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science. The FCAT 2.0 is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Florida. The FCAT 2.0 has 5 achievement levels, with level 1 being the lowest and level 5 the highest. Florida considers scores of level 3 and higher to be on or above grade level. The goal is for all students to score at or above level 3.

See Florida's state standards

Source: Florida Department of Education

Writing

The state average for Writing was 81% in 2012.

57 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
86%

2011

 
 
97%

2010

 
 
97%
Scale: % scoring at or above level 3

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Florida used the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to test students in grades 4, 8 and 10 in writing. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills needed to progress through school. The FCAT writing exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 6. The state considers a score of 3 or above as meeting state standards.

See Florida's state standards

Source: Florida Department of Education

  • In 2011-2012, this school received a grade of "A".
  • In 2010-2011, this school received a grade of "B".
  • In 2009-2010, this school received a grade of "A".
  • In 2008-2009, this school received a grade of "A".

About the tests


Florida uses School Grades to measure the overall performance of a school each year on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Each school is assigned a letter grade (A-F) based on three criteria: the overall performance on the FCAT, the percentage of eligible students who took the test, and whether or not students made progress in reading and math. The School Grades are calculated by adding points earned from each of the performance criteria listed above.

See Florida's state standards

Source: Florida Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Hispanic 95% 25%
White 4% 46%
Multiracial 1% 4%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 0% 0%
Asian/Pacific Islander 0% 2%
Black 0% 23%
Source: FL Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 62%N/A46%
Source: FL Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per teacher 11N/A15
Source: FL Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Teacher education levels

  This school District averageState average
Bachelor's degree 39%N/A65%
Master's degree 52%N/A32%
Doctorate degree 0%N/A1%
Other degree 10%N/A2%
Source: FL Dept. of Education, 2009-2010

Teacher credentials

  This school District averageState average
Classes taught by non-highly qualified teachers 5%N/A5%
Source: FL Dept. of Education, 2009-2010
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

3060 SW 85th Ave
Miami, FL 33155
Website: Click here
Phone: (305) 221-4011

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