ST1.1

The STEM school/program supports non-traditional student participation through outreach to groups often underrepresented in STEM Program areas.

Self-Assessment Rating: 4

Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School and Performing Arts Academy are proud to be a culturally diverse urban charter school in Hialeah Gardens in Miami-Dade County. With 3,400 students from grades 6-12, Mater Academy services students with a wide variety of academic abilities. Mater’s student body is made up of 95% Hispanic students and 5% African American students which essentially means our school is composed of a minority community. 85% of Mater Academy’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch earning us the designation of a Title I School. 453 students participate in the gifted program, 208 students are part of our inclusive special education program, and 258 students receive services as English Language Learners.

Although minority groups and lower socio-economic students are often underrepresented in STEM; at Mater, we are proud to break this mold and provide opportunities for high-quality STEM education to all our students. Our commitment to providing a quality STEM program begins at enrollment. As a public charter school within Miami-Dade County School District, Mater Academy accepts applications within a specified open enrollment period and then admits students through a system-generated random lottery process. Our STEM programs and courses are available to all accepted students, and school applications are for entrance to our school only and not to a specific program.

To showcase its programs, Mater hosts individualized tours by appointment throughout the school year as well as a yearly Open House event usually held in December or January for all interested students and parents. The STEM program is a major highlight of this tour with demonstrations from STEM teachers and students from various clubs and visits to the Robotics Lab, Science Labs and computer facilities. In addition, the Student Government Association (SGA) hosts New Student Orientation for incoming 6-12th-grade students three days during the month of August. During orientation, students get to see the school, receive a spirit shirt, learn the school's chants/songs, and obtain tips on how to succeed in middle and high school. Parents have the opportunity to attend an informational session hosted by the administrative team, and then both students and parents can buy the school uniform from the Mater Store run by Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and they can purchase their summer reading books from the Media Center.

Mater Academy's commitment to a robust educational experience for its students then continues through course offerings and master schedule. The master schedule is designed to identify the specific needs of each student using several data points including the results of the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, as well as the results of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in Science and the College Board AP Potential Report.

At Mater Academy, all students are scheduled to receive the most rigorous coursework they are capable of completing and all students exceed the state requirements for graduation by taking four Language Arts, four Mathematics, four Science and four Social Studies credits as well as two years of Foreign Language and required Practical Arts and Fine Arts credits. Additionally, Mater Academy boasts a robust Advanced Academics Program offering 26 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 20 Dual Enrollment courses offered on campus by our faculty. The philosophy at Mater is to push students to the most rigorous program possible while also providing support and services to pull those students below grade level to proficiency.

This philosophy seems to be working. Mater Academy has a 99% graduation rate, and in the 2018-2019 school year, 126 out of 497 students graduated simultaneously with their Associate in Arts Degree (AA) from Miami Dade College and our high school graduation diploma. We are proud to say that 1 in 4 students at Mater graduate with their AA and many more earn a year’s worth of college credit before leaving Mater Academy.

Mater Academy’s emphasis on STEM education is built into the mission and vision to provide students with a meaningful and nurturing educational environment that promotes academic achievement. Our students will also develop their intellectual and social skills due to our efforts in facilitating a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and a wide range of educational resources within a safe learning environment. Students are expected to perform at or above grade level availing success in high school and within a global society. As a testament to our mission, the top 10% of Mater Academy’s most recent graduating class are continuing their educational careers in some of the country’s finest institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), and Florida International University (FIU).

At Mater, STEM education goes well beyond the classroom. With over 61 student organizations/clubs and 26 athletic teams, there is truly something for everyone at Mater. Our STEM-focused organizations include a nationally recognized VEX Robotics Team, National Champions eSports League, a seven-time nationally recognized Chapter of the Year Future Business Leaders of America organization, an award-winning Science Fair and SECME program, and a host of STEM-based interest clubs and organizations such as Mu Alpha Theta, Pre-Med Society, Girls Who Code and Animal Welfare Society.

At the onset of the 2019-2020 school year, students were encouraged to attend the Back to School Bash held the week before school began. At this event, multiple food trucks catered to students, providing a variety of foods, and one of our very own Lions was the DJ for the event. All class and club officers, sponsors and members also set up tables where they sold the class shirts for the year and informed new students and families about class events such as the end of the year field trips, pep rallies, games, etc. The Back to School Bash was the perfect opportunity for students new to the school and their families to meet other Mater students and obtain information about school events. In addition, STEM clubs and honor societies attended the event as well and provided students with a glimpse of what to expect throughout the school year.