CALUSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs SOMERSET PREPARATORY ACADEMY SUNSET

Somerset Preparatory Academy Sunset ranks #17 of 3,777 Florida schools, placing it in the top 0.5% statewide. Calusa Elementary School, rated 9.2/10 overall, holds its own at #41 of 3,777 — a strong position in its own right, but Somerset's 9.4/10 overall rating reflects a meaningful gap when state rank context is considered. Both schools sit 2.5 miles apart in Miami, yet their positions on the statewide leaderboard diverge sharply.

Academically, the two schools are close but not identical. Somerset Preparatory Academy Sunset scores 9.9/10 on academics versus Calusa Elementary School's 9.7/10. The growth score difference is more pronounced: Somerset posts a 9.4/10 growth score against Calusa's 8.8/10 — a 0.6-point delta suggesting Somerset students are advancing faster relative to their starting points, regardless of where they begin.

Calusa Elementary School enrolls 754 students compared to Somerset Preparatory Academy Sunset's 432, making Calusa nearly 75% larger. Somerset serves a higher share of economically disadvantaged students — 46% free/reduced lunch versus 38% at Calusa — and still outperforms on every rating dimension, which speaks to the strength of its academic program. Student-teacher ratios are similar: 16.0:1 at Calusa and 16.6:1 at Somerset, a negligible difference that should not drive a decision.

The structural differences between these schools matter as much as the scores. Calusa Elementary School is a traditional public school serving grades PK–05, making it the natural choice for families with pre-kindergarten children. Somerset Preparatory Academy Sunset is a charter school spanning KG–08, meaning a student who enrolls in kindergarten can stay through middle school without a transition. This extended grade band is a concrete logistical advantage for families planning beyond elementary years.