For 50 years, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been a true leader in academic innovation and excellence through its Magnet Schools. Since the opening of the first Magnet program in 1973, at the heart of the inner city – Charles R. Drew Elementary – M-DCPS has implemented a varied 375 Magnet programs, across 115 schools. This growth reflects the success of the nationally recognized, award-winning M-DCPS Magnet Schools and the increasing demand for school options that promote student diversity, academic excellence, school-to-career pathways, and real-world learning. And the growth in Magnet programming across Miami-Dade does not stop there.
`New for the 2023-2024 school year is the STArts2 program, which will engage students in Science, Technology, and the Arts, focusing on Digital Music Production. This first-of-its-kind program makes M-DCPS history by explicitly extending access, aligning curriculum, and individualizing academic support for students with disabilities and English language learners. In this program, students of varying English language proficiencies and students of ALL abilities will engage in hands-on learning opportunities that focus on environmental, conservation, space, and marine sciences. Students will also study music theory and music production
technology concepts to apply them to the recording, sequencing and music mixing using state-of-the-art production studios.
The application period for the STArts2 program opened on April 12th, which coincides with Autism Acceptance Month. This launch comes at the perfect time, given the nature of this program to ensure equity and access for all. STArts2 is designed to increase academic rigor, inspire interest in STEAM careers, and promote higher academic achievement by creating a fully inclusive schoolwide magnet that will serve all K-8 applicants without distinction. For the 2023-2024 school year, STArts2 will be open for students in kindergarten through 5th grade, with an expansion to 6th – 8th grades for the 2024-2025 school year.
Also new for the 2023-2024 school year is a STEM – Apple Coding Magnet program that will introduce students to the same programming used by professional developers to build some of the world’s most powerful applications. Students in grades 6 through 8 in three M-DCPS schools across will have the opportunity to learn, prototype and share their ingenuity as they are introduced to the world of coding.
Families interested in learning more about these new Magnet programs or others offered throughout the district can visit miamimagnets.org. Families are encouraged to contact the schools to inquire about eligibility criteria and apply to their chosen program. Applications will be accepted online at offcycle.miamimagnet.com or in person at the respective school site.
M-DCPS prides itself on the visionary and innovative educational choices it offers all students across South Florida. The options are endless at M-DCPS, and we are ready to see how our students will change the world!
