Mater Academy Charter School

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = | native_name = | logo = Materacademy.gif | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | motto = | address = 7901 Northwest 103rd Street | city = Hialeah Gardens, Florida 33016 | province = | country = United States | coordinates = {{Coord|25|52|6|N|80|19|32|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}} | type = Charter | established = August 2002 | founder = Fernando Zulueta | status = | closed = | district = Miami-Dade County Public Schools | category = | oversight = | chairman = | dean = | administrator = | rector = | principal = Alex Tamargo | campus_director = | headmaster = | head = | chaplain = | faculty = | teaching_staff = 50.00 (FTE)<ref name=NCES/> | grades = 6-12 | gender = | ratio = 33.00<ref name=NCES/> | enrollment = 1,650 (2023–2024)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1200390&SchoolPageNum=19&ID=120039003838|title=Mater Academy Charter High|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=January 2, 2025}}</ref> | houses = | athletics = Yes | mascot = Marty The Lion | nickname = | rival = Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy | accreditation = | national_ranking = 331 | test_average = SAT: 1140; ACT: 23 | newspaper = "Lions Roar" | yearbook = "Picture This" | affiliations = | website = {{URL|www.matermiddlehigh.org}} | footnotes = | picture = | picture_caption = | picture2 = | picture_caption2 = | category_label = | gender_label = | affiliation = | asst_admin = | president = | chairman_label = | asst principal = | head_label = Second Master | head_name2 = Assistant Headmaster | head2 = | officer_in_charge = | grades_label = | latitude = | longitude = | campus = Suburban | colors = {{color box|Green}}{{color box|Gold}} Green and gold | student_union = | free_label = Emblem | free_text = | free_label1 = School hours | free_text1 = 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM | free_label2 = 20-25 | free_label3 = | free_text3 = }} '''Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School''' (often called '''Mater by students and alumni''') is a coeducational charter school for day students in grades 6 through 12, and offers more than twenty-seven AP courses to students. Located in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, it ranks [https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mater-academy-charter-high-4894#:~:text=Mater%20Academy%20Charter%20High%202021,they%20prepare%20students%20for%20college. #33] in the state, and [https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mater-academy-charter-high-4894#:~:text=Mater%20Academy%20Charter%20High%202021,they%20prepare%20students%20for%20college. #331] in the nation.

==Performing Arts Pavilion== The Performing Arts Pavilion, adjacent to the main campus, was completed in February 2007 and initiated in April 2007.<ref>Miami Herald - April 29, 2007 - NW8</ref> The building provides classroom and multimedia support for the main campus.<ref>{{cite web|title=School Designs|url=http://schooldesigns.com/Project-Details.aspx?Project_ID=3037}}</ref> Classes such as Guitar and Beginning Band are held in the building. It is also used to host presentations by guests — one notable example being [https://www.matermiddlehigh.org/m/video/watch.jsp?v=19940 Pitbull] — faculty meetings, and administrative functions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cornell and MIT Presentation Photo Gallery|url=http://matermiddlehigh.org/apps/album/index.jsp?dir=25181&backLink=&backTitle=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426052517/http://matermiddlehigh.org/apps/album/index.jsp?dir=25181&backLink=&backTitle=|archive-date=2012-04-26}}</ref> The Pavilion also includes space for outdoors eating and vending machines.

==Other building additions== Since its opening in 2002, the school's campus has been substantially expanded, with one of the earliest of additions being a new building to the north of the main one. Early in the 2014–2015 school year, two new buildings were opened on campus, one of which was dedicated to Mater Academy's sister school, Mater Academy Charter Elementary School. Further expansions continue to take place, primarily to the main building. Including the addition of the new building, the STEM Building.

==Recognitions== Mater Academy won the Silver Medal from ''U.S. News & World Report's'' America's Best High Schools two years in a row,<ref name="hispanic">[http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/10282/6/two-predominantly-hispanic-charter-schools-named-among-americas-best-high-schools/ Two predominantly Hispanic charter schools named among America's best high schools] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120907172407/http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/10282/6/two-predominantly-hispanic-charter-schools-named-among-americas-best-high-schools/|date=2012-09-07}} December 17, 2007 Hispanic Wire</ref> and the College Board's 2011 Inspiration Award. In the 2008–2009 school year, the Middle School, High School, and Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy divisions all received an "A" rating in the state's FCAT examination.<ref>[http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/ FDOE Grades Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103102949/http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/ |date=2012-01-03 }}[http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/6012.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722202310/http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/6012.pdf |date=July 22, 2011 }}[http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/7160.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722202342/http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/7160.pdf |date=July 22, 2011 }}[http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/7014.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722202410/http://materacademyhigh.dadeschools.net/Report%20Card/7014.pdf |date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref>

== Notable events == In September 2021 Conor McGregor paid the school a surprise visit to Mater where students cheered as he entered "The Lion Den."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Puneet |date=24 September 2021 |title=Watch: Conor McGregor pays a surprise visit to the students at Mater Academy in Miami |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-watch-conor-mcgregor-pays-surprise-visit-students-mater-academy-miami |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=Sportskeeda}}</ref>

Shedeur Sanders visited Mater Academy to work out with his Colorado teammates in preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft and to engage with students. During his visit in March 2025, he shared his experiences and the importance of hard work, provided pizza for the students, and hosted a Q&A session

==Notable alumni== *Albert Almora, MLB outfielder for the Chicago Cubs<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1940374.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161111164913/http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1940374.html| archive-date = 2016-11-11| title = Mater Academy's Albert Almora goes to Chicago Cubs on 6th pick {{!}} Miami Herald| website = Miami Herald}}</ref> *Julio Horrego, Honduran swimmer and Olympic representative *Zack Moss, NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.matermiddlehigh.org/ Mater Academy Middle/High Charter School] * [http://materacademy.dadeschools.net/ Mater Academy Charter Elementary School] * [https://www.dadeschools.net/ Miami-Dade County Public Schools]

Category:Miami-Dade County Public Schools Category:Educational institutions established in 2002 Category:High schools in Miami-Dade County, Florida Category:Public high schools in Florida Category:Public middle schools in Florida Category:Charter schools in Florida Category:2002 establishments in Florida