{{Infobox organization | name = Mater Academy Inc. | pronunciation = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | named_after = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | logo = MaterAcademylogo.PNG | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|1998|01}}<ref name="pp180128">{{cite web|title=Mater Academy Inc. Form 990 2015|url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650857507|publisher=ProPublica|accessdate=28 January 2018}}</ref> | founder = Fernando Zulueta | founding_location = Little Havana | extinction = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = | type = charter management organization | tax_id = 65-0857507<ref name="PP">{{cite web |title=Mater Academy Inc form 990 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/650857507/04_2021_prefixes_63-66%2F650857507_202006_990_2021042718015510 |website=Non-profit Explorer |publisher=ProPublica |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> | registration_id = <!-- for non-profit org --> | status = | purpose = | headquarters = Miami, Florida | location = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --> | region_served = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | membership = 14,780 students<ref name=PP /> | num_members_year = 2020 | language = | owner = <!-- or | owners = --> | secretary_general = | leader_title = President | leader_name = Roberto C Blanch<ref name="PS">{{cite web |title=MATER ACADEMY CENTRAL INC form 990 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/465537120/04_2021_prefixes_46-47%2F465537120_202006_990_2021041217926501 |website=ProPublica Projects |publisher=ProPublica |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> | leader_title2 = Chairman, Florida | leader_name2 = Cesar Christian Crousillat<ref name="PQ">{{cite web |title=MATER ACADEMY OF NEVADA form 990 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/465122331/05_2021_prefixes_46-46%2F465122331_202006_990_2021052618206213 |website=ProPublica Projects |publisher=ProPublica |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> | leader_title3 = Chairman, Nevada | leader_name3 = Ricardo Jasso<ref name=PQ /> | leader_title4 = Chairman, Northern Nevada | leader_name4 = Luke Welmerink<ref name="PR">{{cite web |title=MATER ACADEMY OF NORTHERN NEVADA form 990 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/815174782/05_2021_prefixes_81-82%2F815174782_202006_990_2021052518188770 |website=ProPublica Projects |publisher=ProPublica |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = Board of Directors | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = $175,187,261<ref name=PP /><ref name=PQ /><ref name=PR /><ref name=PS /> | revenue_year = 2020 | disbursements = | expenses = $173,433,608<ref name=PP /><ref name=PQ /><ref name=PR /><ref name=PS /> | expenses_year = 2020 | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = 2,688<ref name=PP /><ref name=PQ /><ref name=PR /><ref name=PS /> | num_staff_year = 2020 | num_volunteers = 3,059<ref name=PP /><ref name=PQ /><ref name=PR /><ref name=PS /> | num_volunteers_year = 2020 | slogan = | website = {{URL|https://www.materacademy.org/}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = }}

'''Mater Academy''' is a non-profit charter management organization based in Florida. They have a network of 49 schools in Florida and Nevada. Mater partners with Academica, a for-profit education management organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.materacademy.com/about/district_profile.jsp|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120910082433/http://www.materacademy.com/about/district_profile.jsp|url-status=dead|title=Mater Academy Schools|date=10 September 2012|archivedate=10 September 2012|website=Archive.today|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref> In 2025 the company filed paperwork to establish schools in Sarasota, Florida.<ref>https://www.mysuncoast.com/2025/10/08/hostile-takeover-charter-operator-files-occupy-three-sarasota-schools/#</ref>

==Origins== In 1968, the Sacred Heart Sister Mother Margarita Miranda-Otero began ''Centro Mater'' as a childcare facility in Little Havana, a poor immigrant neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Translated from Latin, it means "Mother Center". It was successful and flourished.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-03-18 |title=Street naming ceremony to honor Sister Margarita Miranda-Otero {{!}} Biscayne Bay Tribune# |url=https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/street-naming-ceremony-to-honor-sister-margarita-miranda-otero/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

As a teenager, Fernando Zulueta volunteered at Centro Mater.<ref name="HIST">{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.materacademy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=425096&type=d |website=Mater Academies |publisher=Mater Academy |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> In 1996, the Florida Legislature authorized charter schools as part of the state's K-12 public education system. One year after starting the Somerset Academy in Miramar, Florida, and inspired by his experience at Centro Mater, Zulueta founded the nonprofit Mater Academy. The following year, Zulueta incorporated the for-profit education school management company Academica.

Mater Academy spread across Hialeah, Florida. There were 14 Mater Academy schools in 2010, with over 6,300 students. Enrollment increased to 13,380 in 2015.<ref name="HIST" />

==Operations== There were twenty-three employees of Mater Academy Inc making six figure salaries in 2020.<ref name=PP /><ref name=PQ /><ref name=PR /><ref name=PS />

==Awards & Rankings== Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens, Florida won a silver medal award from ''U.S. News & World Report'' in 2008 and 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/10282/6/two-prZedominantly-hispanic-charter-schools-named-among-americas-best-high-schools/# |title=Two Predominantly Hispanic Charter Schools Named Among 'America's Best High Schools' by U.S. News and &#124; Education &#124; Hispanic PR Wire - the Premier News Distribution Service Reaching U.S. Hispanic Media and Opinion Leaders |access-date=2012-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907172407/http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/10282/6/two-predominantly-hispanic-charter-schools-named-among-americas-best-high-schools/# |archive-date=2012-09-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They were also ranked the 41st best high school in Florida for 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Mater Academy Charter High |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mater-academy-charter-high-4894 |website=US News.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

Mater Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy in Hialeah Gardens, Florida was ranked the 31st best high school in Florida for 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Mater Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mater-performing-arts-and-entertainment-academy-4906 |website=USNews.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

Mater Academy East Charter High School in Miami was ranked the 32nd best high school in Florida for 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Mater Academy East Charter High School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/search?state-urlname=florida&charter=true |website=US News.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

Mater Academy Lakes High School in Hialeah Gardens, Florida was ranked the 62nd best high school in Florida for 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Mater Academy Lakes High School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mater-academy-lakes-high-school-4915 |website=US News.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

Sports Leadership of Miami Charter High School in Little Havana (formerly Sports Leadership and Management/SLAM) was ranked the 486th best high school in Florida for 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Sports Leadership of Miami Charter High School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/sports-leadership-of-miami-charter-high-school-141438 |website=US News.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/pitbull-slam-charter-school_n_3794515.html | title=Pitbull Opens SLAM Charter School To Make Education 'Sexy' Again | publisher=Huffington Post | date=August 22, 2013 | accessdate=September 19, 2013 | author=Benson, John}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://archive.today/20130128132602/http://www.materacademy.com/schools/index.jsp Mater Academy Schools]

Category:Charter schools in the United States Category:Charter management organizations

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