M-DCPS Magnet Schools

What M-DCPS Magnet Schools does

M-DCPS Magnet Schools is the magnet-program portfolio of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), the fourth-largest public school district in the United States. The program operates 370 themed magnet programs across 110 schools, organized under 11 themes of study that span STEM, visual and performing arts, international studies, language immersion, and career-technical pathways. It serves K-12 students residing in or commuting into Miami-Dade County, including inter-district transfers permitted under Florida's magnet school statutes, and recruits learners through application-based enrollment rather than residential assignment.

The portfolio's core products are themed curricular pathways rather than discrete technology products. Notable signature programs include the Iovine & Young Center (innovation and design, in partnership with USC's Iovine & Young Academy), BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 (biotech and conservation research), Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), New World School of the Arts, the Apple Coding/Swift pathway, and multiple NAF Academies covering Finance, IT, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Hospitality & Tourism. The underlying technology stack is curated through partnerships: Apple for coding/Swift, Amazon Web Services for cloud computing, NASA for STEM engagement, the Air Force Association for aerospace-themed programs, and the National Academy Foundation for career academies. Hardware and lab infrastructure referenced in the program descriptions includes VR/AR equipment, 3D printers, robotics kits, and biotech lab facilities.

The business model is publicly funded and non-commercial. Revenue flows from Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) per-pupil allocations weighted for magnet programs, supplemented by federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grants (including a $15 million MSAP award in 2022), local property tax revenues, and categorical state appropriations. There is no tuition model; enrollment is free to Florida-resident students and competitive via application. The customer base is K-12 learners and their families, with no commercial customer segmentation or pricing tiers.

Name

M-DCPS Magnet Schools

Legal name

School Board of Miami-Dade County | Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Website

https://yourchoicemiami.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

M-DCPS Magnet Schools operates 370 themed magnet programs across 110 schools under Miami-Dade County Public Schools, serving K-12 students in Miami-Dade County through 11 curriculum themes including STEM, arts, and career academies, funded by state FEFP allocations and federal MSAP grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Magnet Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE), Virtual Homeschool Programs & Online Curriculum Schools (EDAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Magnet school programs
• Specialized curriculum tracks
• School choice programs
• Career academy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: M-DCPS Magnet Schools are part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district, funded through state education funding, federal grants, and local property taxes. No tuition is charged to students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

M-DCPS Magnet Schools delivers themed K-12 magnet programs across approximately 110 schools in Miami-Dade County, Florida, offering more than 370 specialized curricula in areas such as STEM, arts, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, dual language, career academies, and Montessori. Programs are tuition-free and accessible to resident families through a centralized district-wide school choice application process.

Product overview

M-DCPS Magnet Schools operates as a comprehensive school choice platform offering specialized educational programs across Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The system encompasses approximately 370 magnet programs at 110 schools, categorized under eleven themes of study: Arts and Multimedia, Business and Finance, Early Childhood and Education, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Information Technology and Digital Design, International and Advanced Studies, On-Demand Learning, Public Service, STEM, and Trade and Industry. The core offerings include Magnet Schools (specialized programs with no boundary restrictions), Parent Choice Programs (boundary-priority programs), and Career Academies (62 NAF academies linking academics with career-themed focus). Key programs include the Apple™ Coding Magnet Program using Apple Develop in Swift curriculum, the Iovine & Young Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Miami Edison Senior High, STArts2 Project (Science, Technology and Arts with $15M MSAP funding), DREcomm Center for Communications, RITMO music program, Venetian Parc Academy (mastery-based learning), and BioTECH @ Richmond Heights (conservation biology). Applications are processed through the Magnet Application Portal with random selection and results delivered via the M-DCPS Parent Portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Magnet Schools: Specialized programs offering focused courses of study in areas such as STEM, Arts, Business, Health Sciences, and International Studies across 110 schools with 370 programs.
• Parent Choice Programs
• Career Academies
• Visual & Performing Arts (VPA)
• S.T.E.M. Programs
• NAF Academies
• Apple™ Coding Magnet Program
• Iovine & Young Center
• Venetian Parc Academy
• RITMO
• DREcomm

Products and services

• M-DCPS K-12 Magnet Programs (portfolio of 370+ themed programs across ~110 schools) A portfolio of tuition-free, themed K-12 magnet programs spanning STEM, arts, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, dual language, career academies, and Montessori tracks, delivered at approximately 110 schools across Miami-Dade County for resident students.
• STEM Magnet Programs Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics themed magnet school programs designed for K-12 students seeking STEM-focused instruction, including coding and space-science partnerships.
• Arts Magnet Programs Visual and performing arts themed magnet school programs for K-12 students pursuing specialized arts instruction.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge Magnet Programs Internationally benchmarked academic magnet programs (IB and Cambridge) offered at designated schools for students pursuing globally recognized curricula.
• Career and Technical Academy Magnet Programs Career-themed magnet academies delivering industry-aligned career and technical education pathways for high school students.
• Dual Language and Montessori Magnet Programs Language-immersion and Montessori-themed magnet programs offered to K-12 students as alternatives to traditional classroom models.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School graduates went on to college or university
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016NASA partnership through the Growing Beyond Earth program. Students test edible plant varieties for long-duration space missions. Over 40,000 students from 400+ schools nationwide contribute data to NASA scientists developing food crop technologies for deep space missions.
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioTECH High School uses Fairchild Garden as an outdoor campus for conservation biology education. Students conduct hands-on research at the 83-acre botanical garden, learning from resident scientists and experts.
• Zoo MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioTECH program utilizes Zoo Miami as a campus where students study animals up close, with keepers and zoologists serving as mentors for hands-on research.
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic GardensflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTArts2 Project partner providing place-based learning experiences as part of the Science, Technology, and Arts program at three K-8 schools.
• Florida International University (FIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIU is a partner in the STArts2 Project providing academic support and collaboration for the inclusive magnet programs.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWS partners with STArts2 Project to enhance STEAM learning through technology integration and cloud-based educational resources.
• Discovery EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscovery Education provides digital curriculum resources and content for the STArts2 Project's STEAM programming.
• University of Southern California Iovine and Young AcademyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Iovine & Young Center is modeled after USC's Iovine and Young Academy, adopting their hands-on approach to fusing technology, entrepreneurship, and design.
• Save the Music FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSave the Music Foundation partners with RITMO mariachi program at Leisure City K-8 Center to support music education.
• Guitars Over GunscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuitars Over Guns provides mentorship and music education support for the RITMO mariachi program.
• Miami Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School is adjacent to the Miami Police Department, providing internship opportunities for students.
• Local Courthouses and MuseumsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School students have internship opportunities with local courthouses, judges, and lawyers within walking distance of the campus.
• Biscayne National ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCutler Bay Senior High's COAST program provides internships and field experiences at Biscayne National Park.
• International Process ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic production consultants for the STArts2 Project's Digital Music Production program.
• Children's VoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the RITMO mariachi program.
• Young Musicians UniteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting RITMO program music education initiatives.
• Mexican American CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting cultural programming for the RITMO mariachi program.
• Hermanos Mora ArriagaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMariachi music instructors and cultural partners for the RITMO program.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAF provides industry-specific curricula and work-based learning experiences. M-DCPS has 62 NAF academies at 30 high schools with 12 Model and 19 Distinguished academies, outperforming all other U.S. districts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Magnet Schools of America: National non-profit association that sets magnet-program standards and administers the Magnet Schools of Excellence / Distinction awards — the same recognition framework in which M-DCPS leads. Comparable because it shapes the competitive landscape and award structure that M-DCPS's 75 awards depend on.

Direct peers

• New York City Department of Education Magnet Schools: Largest U.S. urban school district with a long-running magnet schools portfolio across boroughs. Comparable because it offers themed magnet programs (STEM, arts, IB) at the K-12 level, uses citywide lottery admissions, and competes with M-DCPS for national rankings and federal magnet funding.
• Broward County Public Schools Magnet Programs: Adjacent Florida county public school district offering its own magnet school programs to K-12 students. Directly comparable because it serves a similar South Florida demographic, uses lottery-based admissions, and competes for the same state-level reputation rankings and federal MSAP grants.
• Los Angeles Unified School District Magnet Schools: Second-largest U.S. school district operating one of the most expansive magnet programs in the country. Comparable because it serves a large and diverse K-12 student population with themed magnets and competes with M-DCPS for top-tier rankings and federal grants.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet Programs: Large Florida public school district operating multiple magnet and choice programs. Comparable in scale of magnet offerings, theme-based curriculum structure, and reliance on lottery admissions within a single district footprint.
• Chicago Public Schools Magnet/IB/Selective Enrollment Programs: Major urban school district operating themed magnet, International Baccalaureate, and selective-enrollment programs for K-12 students. Comparable because it uses competitive/lottery admissions, serves a diverse urban population, and competes with M-DCPS for national magnet recognition.

Emerging players

• Success Academy Charter Schools: High-performing charter school network in New York City known for STEM- and test-focused K-12 programming. Comparable because it competes for high-achieving, lottery-selected students in urban environments and represents the charter-network alternative to traditional public magnet schools.
• KIPP Public Schools: National network of high-performing public charter schools serving K-12 students in low-income communities. Comparable because it represents the most scalable charter-network alternative to district-run magnet programs, particularly for STEM and college-prep themes overlapping with M-DCPS offerings.

Others

• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Education Programs): Partner organization whose 83-acre campus hosts BioTECH High School field-based conservation biology programming. Comparable as an ecosystem-enabling partner for place-based, science-focused magnet programming that M-DCPS uses to differentiate its STEM offerings.
• National Academy Foundation (NAF): National non-profit that provides industry-themed curricula and work-based learning frameworks used by M-DCPS's 62 NAF academies. Comparable because it is a direct operating partner whose accreditation framework and curricula are integral to M-DCPS's career academy outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/miamimagnets
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiamiMagnets
• Instagraminstagram.com/miamimagnets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miamimagnets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about M-DCPS Magnet Schools