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Average

#2788 of 3,777 schools in FL

John A. Ferguson Senior High

High School · MIAMI-DADE

15900 SW 56TH ST, Miami, FL 33185

Enrollment

4,389

Student-Teacher

26.8:1

Score

5.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Miami

#206 of 280

public schools

Florida high schools

#347 of 748

In district

#361 of 497

MIAMI-DADE

About John A. Ferguson Senior High

John A. Ferguson Senior High serves 4,389 students in grades 9-12 in Miami's affluent southwestern suburbs. This large public high school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 26.8:1 with 164 full-time equivalent teachers supporting its diverse student body.

Academically, Ferguson demonstrates solid performance with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #1035 out of 3,816 Florida high schools, placing it in the 73rd percentile statewide. The school earns an impressive academic score of 8.4 out of 10, with 70% of students achieving proficient or above levels in English Language Arts and Reading across all grade levels. The school draws from an established community where the median household income reaches $103,401 and median home values average $459,800.

Nearly 40% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the local poverty rate remains relatively low at 9.4%. This ZIP code of 33185 houses approximately 29,530 residents in what has become one of Miami-Dade County's more prosperous suburban neighborhoods. Ferguson Senior High operates in Miami's large suburban setting, providing comprehensive high school education to families in this well-established community known for its residential stability and economic opportunity.

What's said publicly about John A. Ferguson Senior High

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

John A. Ferguson Senior High School is a public high school located at 15900 SW 56th Street in Kendall West, Florida 2 . It operates as a certified magnet and academy school within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system 2 . The institution primarily serves the outer portion of the Kendall West suburb 2 . Rafael Villalobos served as the school's principal from 2003 until 2021 2 . Wendy Barnett assumed the role of principal in 2021 2 .
Sources (2)
  1. ferguson.dadeschools.net
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

John A. Ferguson Senior High is a large school with 4,389 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at John A. Ferguson Senior High is 26.8:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress1.7Significantly Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-5.97 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.5Above Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency36%
Reading/ELA Proficiency64%
Reading vs. State Avg+11.4 pts
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)52%
vs. Expected-2.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile50th
College Readiness9.6Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation24.9%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment2.3Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,221

John A. Ferguson Senior High — Students at John A. Ferguson Senior High score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

44%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 48.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 67.5%
School
State
52.7%

Based on 6 test records from FL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
61%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
36%
ELA
64%
2024
ELA
69.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 1.7/10.

How John A. Ferguson Senior High Compares

See how John A. Ferguson Senior High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.4/10
26th percentile in FL
Academic
6.5/10
6.5/10
Growth
1.7/10
Below average
Environment
2.3/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
44%
Teaching Staff
27:1 student-teacher ratio
164 teachers

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
24.9% participation·359 IB enrolled·CRDC 2020-21

Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

15900 SW 56TH ST, Miami, FL 33185

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John A. Ferguson Senior High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. PINECREST PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.4/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, G. HOLMES BRADDOCK SENIOR HIGH (rated 4.9/10, 2.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Miami, see our Miami schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
DR. MANUEL C. BARREIRO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Miami 0.5 mi 7.5
U.S. INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Miami 0.5 mi
LAMAR LOUISE CURRY MIDDLE SCHOOL Miami 0.6 mi 5.1
BOWMAN ASHE/DOOLIN K-8 ACADEMY Miami 0.7 mi 7.4
LITTLE PROMISES DAYCARELEARNING CENTER Miami 0.8 mi
LAGO MAR PRESCHOOL I Miami 1.0 mi
JANE S. ROBERTS K-8 CENTER Miami 1.1 mi 7.0
DANTE B. FASCELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Miami 1.3 mi 6.6
PINECREST ACADEMY CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Miami 1.5 mi 7.7
PINECREST PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL Miami 1.5 mi 5.4
PINECREST ACADEMY (SOUTH CAMPUS) Miami 1.7 mi 7.7
FUTURE LEADERS ACADEMY OF KENDALL CORP Miami 1.8 mi 4.3
ETHEL KOGER BECKHAM K-8 CENTER Miami 1.7 mi 8.0
KIDS ADVENTURE LEARNING CENTER Miami 1.8 mi
MOT ACADEMY Miami 1.8 mi 6.7
M.O.T. ACADEMY Miami 1.8 mi 6.7
KINGDOM ACADEMY Miami 2.0 mi 5.1
G. HOLMES BRADDOCK SENIOR HIGH Miami 2.0 mi 4.9
PINECREST PREPARATORY ACADEMY Miami 2.0 mi 7.5
MIAMI BAPTIST SCHOOL Miami 2.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 33185 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$107,146

Median Home Value

$496,700

Median Rent

$2,769/mo

Population

29,124

College Educated

38.9%

Homeownership

79.8%

Avg Commute

38.3 min

Poverty Rate

9.6%

Median Age

42.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding John A. Ferguson Senior High has a median household income of $107,146. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $496,700, with a median rent of $2,769/month. The local poverty rate of 9.6% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
LAKE NONA HIGH Orlando, FL 5.5
WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Wellington, FL 5.5
CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Coral Gables, FL 5.6
EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL Clermont, FL 5.6
WINDERMERE HIGH Windermere, FL 5.6
CYPRESS CREEK HIGH Orlando, FL 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John A. Ferguson Senior High

What grades does John A. Ferguson Senior High serve?

John A. Ferguson Senior High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend John A. Ferguson Senior High?

John A. Ferguson Senior High has an enrollment of approximately 4,389 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John A. Ferguson Senior High?

The student-teacher ratio at John A. Ferguson Senior High is 26.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John A. Ferguson Senior High rank in FL?

John A. Ferguson Senior High is ranked #2788 out of 3,777 schools in FL.

What is John A. Ferguson Senior High's MySchoolScout rating?

John A. Ferguson Senior High has a composite rating of 5.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at John A. Ferguson Senior High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, John A. Ferguson Senior High has 48.5% math proficiency and 67.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is John A. Ferguson Senior High a charter school?

No, John A. Ferguson Senior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is John A. Ferguson Senior High a Title I school?

No, John A. Ferguson Senior High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John A. Ferguson Senior High?

44.0% of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
53 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,478/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Miami). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
4,389
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
164
Free/Reduced Lunch
44.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Miami-Dade County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

MIAMI-DADE
District Enrollment
335,500
Schools in District
536
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,066
District Rank
#361 of 497

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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