Miami-Dade County Public Schools | |
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Address | |
1450 NE Second Avenue Downtown, Miami, Florida 33132 USA |
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Information | |
Motto | Giving our students the world. |
Founded | 1885 |
Superintendent | Alberto M. Carvalho |
Enrollment | 370,656 (4th-largest in U.S.) (August 30, 2016) |
Language | English and/or bilingual with Spanish, German, Haitian Creole, or Mandarin Chinese |
Area | Miami-Dade County, Florida |
Teachers | 21,646 (2012) |
Budget | $4.3 billion (2012) |
Schools | 435 (2012) |
Website | dadeschools.net |
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County, in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and the fourth largest in the United States, with a student enrollment of 370,656 as of August 30, 2016.
The district is managed by the School Board of Miami-Dade County, which appoints a superintendent to head the administrative portions of the district. Alberto Carvalho has been Superintendent since September 12, 2008.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is one of a few public school districts in the United States to offer optional international studies programs and bilingual education. Bilingual education is offered in Spanish, French, German, Haitian Creole, and Mandarin Chinese. M-DCPS is the only school district in Florida to offer bilingual education in Mandarin.
35% of MDCPS teachers are graduates of Florida International University.
The School Board of Miami-Dade County first met in Miami, Florida, June 27, 1885. Those present at the first Board of Education meeting were Superintendent C.H. Lumm, and members of the Board, W.H. Benest, Joseph F. Frow, and Adam C. Richards. The main order of business consisted of dividing the district, which at the time spanned from current day Florida Keys to Martin County. Superintendent and members divided Dade County into four districts. Lake Worth was declared District #1, while Miami became known as District #2.Coconut Grove fell within the boundaries of District #3, with Elliott's Key, and all other islands or keys comprising District #4.