South Miami Senior High School

What South Miami Senior High School does

South Miami Senior High School is a public secondary school established in 1971, operating as a campus within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) district in Miami, Florida. The institution serves approximately 1,717 students in grades 9 through 12, delivering a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum anchored by four differentiated academic pathways: the Magnet School for the Arts (covering Graphic Design & Illustration, Fine Art, Band, Orchestra, Multimedia Broadcasting, Photography, and Apple Coding), the AICE Cambridge pre-university program, the Medical Assisting vocational track, and broader Career & Technical Education offerings including Architecture and Construction, Programming & Networking, and Robotics. The school maintains dual enrollment partnerships with Florida International University, Miami Dade College, the University of Miami (through the WIMSA STEM program), Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, and the UPenn Wharton School of Business, enabling students to earn college credit concurrently with high school completion.

The institution is publicly funded through state and local education allocations administered by MDCPS, with no tuition charged to district residents. Limited ancillary fees apply to specific activities, such as athletic insurance ($18 per sport annually, $63 for football) and optional programs. Operationally, the school distributes tablet devices to students through the MDCPS Innovations School Choice instructional technology program, uses the district-wide Educational Networks mobile platform for communications, and supports a student-run television production program (Cobra TV) within its magnet portfolio. The campus is located at 6856 SW 53 St., Miami, Florida, and is led by Principal Herbert Penton.

Strategically, the school's positioning rests on its sustained Magnet Schools of America recognition (awards in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, including a 2023 Demonstration School designation), a 50-plus-year institutional history under the Cobra brand, and the breadth of its dual enrollment pipeline. The customer base comprises high school students and their families, with parent engagement structured through PTSA and EESAC governance bodies. Revenue mechanics are entirely government-funded through the district, with no commercial customer relationships, no private capital, and no disclosed philanthropic material to operating budget.

Name

South Miami Senior High School

Legal name

South Miami Senior High School

Website

https://southmiamiseniorhigh.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Miami Senior High School is a Miami-Dade County public high school serving approximately 1,717 students in grades 9-12, offering a Magnet School for the Arts, AICE Cambridge, Medical Assisting, and CTE programs with dual enrollment pathways to multiple universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Public secondary education
• Magnet arts program
• College preparatory curriculum
• Career technical education
• Dual enrollment pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Operates as a public high school within Miami-Dade County Public Schools district, funded through state and local education funding rather than direct tuition revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

South Miami Senior High School is a public secondary school delivering grades 9–12 college-preparatory education to approximately 1,717 students in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district. Core academic and specialty offerings include the Magnet School for the Arts (Graphic Design, Fine Art, Band, Orchestra, Multimedia Broadcasting, Photography, Apple Coding), the AICE Cambridge pre-university program, the Medical Assisting vocational program, broader CTE tracks, and dual enrollment pathways with FIU, Miami Dade College, University of Miami, Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, and UPenn Wharton.

Product overview

South Miami Senior High School is a public high school offering a comprehensive educational program with specialized magnet programs. The core offerings include the Magnet School for the Arts (with programs in Graphic Design, Fine Art, Band, Orchestra, Multimedia Broadcasting, Photography, and Apple Coding), the AICE Cambridge Program, Medical Assisting Program, and CTE vocational programs. The school also provides extensive athletics programs, food services, and student media production through Cobra TV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Magnet School for the Arts Specialized magnet program offering arts-focused education including Graphic Design & Illustration, Fine Art, Band, Orchestra, Multimedia Broadcasting, Photography, and Apple Coding, available to MDCPS students through a separate magnet application process.
• AICE Cambridge Program Cambridge Assessment International Education program offering internationally recognized qualifications for pre-university students at South Miami Senior High.
• Medical Assisting Program Vocational program providing training for students pursuing careers in medical assisting, offered through dual enrollment.
• Apple Coding Coding program within the Magnet School for the Arts focusing on Apple development and programming skills.
• CTE (Career & Technical Education) Vocational programs including Architecture and Construction, Programming & Networking, and Robotics with various certifications and competitions.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletics program including Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross-Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling, and Flag Football.
• Food Services School nutrition program operating Cobra Hall Cafeteria and Cobra Tower Cafeteria, participating in the National School Lunch Program.
• Cobra TV / Multimedia Broadcasting Student-run television production program producing news broadcasts, interviews, and school event coverage as part of the Magnet School for the Arts program.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Miami Dade CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing high school students to earn college credits while completing high school requirements. Students can take courses at MDC campuses or through school-based offerings.
• Florida International University (FIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership providing pathways for students to access university courses and degree programs. Includes connection to UPenn Wharton School of Business program.
• University of MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through WIMSA (Women in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering) program providing STEM enrichment opportunities and connections to medical fields.
• Lindsey Hopkins Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer and technical education partnership offering vocational programs and pathways to technical careers.
• UPenn Wharton School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnection through dual enrollment programs providing access to business education pathways.
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS)coreTechnology or IntegrationParent district providing district-wide technology infrastructure including tablet distribution program through Innovations School Choice initiative, instructional materials, and operational support.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coral Reef Senior High School: Largest public high school in Miami-Dade County with extensive magnet programs (Visual & Performing Arts, IB, Business, Legal, IB+Magnet combos) and ~3,000+ students. Directly comparable to South Miami Senior High as a magnet-capable MDCPS comprehensive high school serving grades 9-12 with specialty application tracks.
• Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH): MDCPS magnet high school ranked among the top design/architecture schools in the U.S., with specialized tracks in industrial design, fashion, architecture, and graphics. Directly comparable to South Miami's Magnet School for the Arts as an in-district arts magnet competitor for grades 9-12.
• New World School of the Arts: MDCPS magnet high school partnered with Miami Dade College focused on visual arts, dance, music, theater, and film. Directly comparable to South Miami's arts magnet and dual-enrollment college-credit model, drawing the same pool of arts-oriented applicants from Miami-Dade County.
• TERRA Environmental Research Institute: MDCPS magnet high school with environmental science, engineering, and biotechnology themes serving grades 9-12. Comparable to South Miami as a STEM/CTE-focused magnet within the same district, competing for similar STEM-track applicants.
• MAST Academy (Maritime and Science Technology): MDCPS magnet high school on Key Biscayne focusing on maritime studies, oceanography, and STEM. Directly comparable as an in-district magnet high school competing for STEM-oriented families in Miami-Dade County.
• iPrep Academy: MDCPS magnet high school emphasizing project-based learning, technology, and interdisciplinary curriculum. Comparable to South Miami Senior High as an MDCPS magnet alternative drawing college-prep students in the same county.
• School for Advanced Studies (SAS): MDCPS magnet program focused exclusively on accelerated college preparation for grades 10-12, co-located with FIU and UM campuses. Comparable to South Miami as an in-district college-prep pathway that absorbs high-achieving applicants who might otherwise apply to SMSH's AICE program.
• Miami Palmetto Senior High School: Comprehensive public high school in adjacent Pinecrest neighborhood (Miami-Dade) with strong academics, IB, Cambridge, and arts programs. Directly comparable geographically as a neighboring MDCPS comprehensive high school serving overlapping zip codes with South Miami Senior High.
• Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School: MDCPS magnet high school with a public safety/law focus plus STEM and Cambridge tracks. Comparable to South Miami Senior High as a specialized magnet within MDCPS competing for career-themed applicants.

Others

• Magnet Schools of America: National non-profit association that awards and certifies U.S. magnet schools (source of all MSA awards listed for SMSH). Relevant as the certifying body whose standards and designations directly shape South Miami Senior High's magnet reputation and continued eligibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SMSHCOBRAS
• Instagraminstagram.com/SMSH_Cobras

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Miami Senior High School