M-DCPS Students, Parents - How to Prepare, What to Expect for the 2025-26 School Year

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for the start of the 2025-26 school year beginning Thursday, August 14. The upcoming academic year promises to be another rewarding one for students, parents, and employees, as M-DCPS continues to provide students with extraordinary educational programs and experiences.

The Back-to-School website has all the details you need about preparations and available services to get your children ready for the first day of school.

The Opening of Schools Customer Service Center is available to assist parents, students, and employees with any questions or concerns beginning Wednesday, August 13^th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through August 22^nd. The Customer Service Center provides parents with the option to call or engage in LiveChat with one of our Customer Service Agents. Visit www3.dadeschools.net to access the Live Chat at our Customer Service Center or call 305-995-HELP (4357) for assistance in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole.

Renovated Schools

M-DCPS students, staff, parents and community members can look forward to many new and modernized school buildings and facilities.

Improvements to M-DCPS facilities, including renovating, remodeling and replacing schools, expanding student capacity, enhancing safety and providing technology upgrades, were made possible with capital funds and General Obligation Bonds (GOB).  

Renovation projects at West Lakes Preparatory Academy, James H. Bright Elementary School, Miami Art Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer, J.C. Bermudez Doral Senior High School, John I. Smith K-8, Herbert A. Ammons Middle School and Southside Preparatory Academy, should be completed in the next year or two.

New Programs and Initiatives (in alphabetical order):

Apple™ Coding
Felix Varela Senior High and South Miami Senior High: The?Apple™ Coding Magnet Program is empowering students with the skills to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. Using Apple’s?Develop in Swift?curriculum, students gain hands-on experience in coding and app development—just like industry professionals. 

DREcomm Center for Communications 

Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center: Offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students in?kindergarten through 8th grade?to explore?media, broadcasting, journalism, storytelling, and public speaking?in the heart of Doral’s thriving media hub. 

Iovine and Young Center (IYC) for Innovation and Entrepreneurship  
Miami Edison Senior High: This interdisciplinary, project-based high school curriculum fuses technology, entrepreneurship, and design made possible through a visionary partnership with entrepreneurs, music producers, and Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young.

RITMO  
Leisure City K-8 Center: Rooted in music, powered by tradition, and alive with history,?RITMO?(Rhythms, Inspiration, Tradition, Music, Origins). This innovative fine arts Magnet program invites students in grades 3 – 8 to explore musical traditions—specializing in Mariachi—while developing their skills as performers, creators, and cultural ambassadors. 

SPACEHUB 

Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High: SpaceHub@HML offers a Magnet experience,?featuring aerospace courses?and a newly upgraded planetarium, providing students with unparalleled opportunities to explore the frontiers of space and technology. 

Venetian Parc Academy: Proudly partnered with Google in Education, Venetian Parc Academy integrates cutting-edge technology and interactive digital tools to enhance personalized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace while cultivating a rich global perspective and developing the skills needed for the future.  

AI at M-DCPS

Artificial Intelligence is here! With tools like Gemini for  students, currently available for grades 9-12, students will explore how AI can support, not replace, their thinking and creativity. Teachers are also using AI to personalize instruction, build lesson plans, and measure learning more effectively. Used wisely, these tools open new doors for college- and career-bound students alike.

Heads Up, Phones Down

Elementary and middle school students may not use or display their personal wireless communication devices during the school day unless an exception applies.

High school students may display and use their personal wireless communication device during the school day but may not use their personal device during instructional time unless expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.

Students must ensure that all wireless communication devices are silent during the instructional day and hotspot capabilities are turned off.

For information about exceptions to the wireless communication device rules, parents may refer to School Board Policy 7540.03 and the applicable Code of Student Conduct on dadeschools.net.

M-DCPS Resources

·         Back-to-School Parent Information: backtoschool.dadeschools.net provides continuous updates and resources, including FAQs and helpful links.

·         The Parent Academy: parentacademymiami.com supports and motivates families with access to information and vital resources in the form of a wide variety of training tools, webinars and resources. The Parent Academy is holding new, weekly webinars in three languages. Visit their Virtual Toolkit for Families or call 305-271-8257 for more Back-to-School information.

·         Office of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education: 305-558-8000 for adult and/or career technical students and enrollment information.

·         Mental Health services and hotline: If a child shows signs of extreme anxiety and has unusual difficulties in school, parents should immediately discuss their concerns with their child’s teacher as well as a mental health professional. Parents can call 305-995-7100 for additional help.

·         School-Based Health Care: HealthConnect funded by The Children's Trust: Healthy Start, Bright Future: Be sure to ask about free, year-round health services in your child's school and sign all required consent forms. Visit thechildrenstrust.org/healthconnect to learn more.

·         Transportation: Students eligible for District transportation services can check the Dadeschools Mobile App and the Student and Parent Portal for bus route information. Please note there may be delays in the first week of service.

·         Meals: School breakfast and lunch are available at no charge to all students enrolled in M-DCPS, as part of the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.

Stay Connected with M-DCPS

M-DCPS can communicate accurately and efficiently with parents through voice, text, and email messages. It is important that your child’s school has the most current parent contact information. Parents can update their details by contacting their child’s principal.

Dadeschools Mobile App

The recently updated Dadeschools Mobile App is a one-stop shop for parents. Access important information including class schedules, school grades lunch menus, class and bus schedules, District news and much more. Download the free app to your iPhone or Android device.

Editor’s Note: Back-to-School Checklist attached.

For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools Mobile App to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @suptdotres, on Instagram @miamischools and @suptdotres, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools.