Magnet Schools Overview

Since opening its first magnet program in 1973, choice options have expanded with the establishment of innovative choice programs/schools federally supplemented by the Magnet Schools Assistance Program and the Voluntary Public School Choice Grant (I Choose!). In all, the School Choice & Parental Options office administers over 340 choice programs in over 100 schools, with an enrollment of over 43,000 students.

Magnet programs offer unique courses of study focusing on students' special interests, talents, and abilities. Magnet programs are available to students under the following six themes of study:

• Careers & Professions

• International Programs

• Liberal Arts

• Mathematics, Science, & Technology

• VPREP- Virtual Offerings

• Visual & Performing Arts

This past year, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ magnets have received numerous national recognitions and awards.  Just to highlight a few:

• 4 magnet high schools were named among Newsweek’s list of the top 1,000 schools in the country

• 37 magnet high schools were ranked among the Washington Post’s most challenging schools

• 10 magnet high schools were ranked in the top 1,000 nationally by US News and World Report

• 2 magnet high schools were ranked #1 & #2 in Florida by US News and World Report,

• 22 magnet high schools were ranked in the top 100 in Florida by

  US News and World Report

• 21 magnet schools were recognized as Magnet Schools of Excellence or Magnet Schools of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America (MSA) including the “Best Elementary” Magnet School in the Country