Families eyeing a seat at MAST Academy on Virginia Key or any of Miami-Dade's other magnet schools can apply now for the 2026-27 school year.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) announced Aug. 15 that applications for its magnet programs and Voluntary Prekindergarten are open. The district is also running a separate Magnet Open Seats window, which it described as a second chance for students to claim spots in high-demand programs. Both are free.

The timing is aggressive. Classes started Aug. 13, meaning the application portal went live just two days into the new school year.

How families can apply

Parents submit applications through the M-DCPS Parent Portal at dadeschools.net. The district's magnet information site, yourchoicemiami.org, lists available programs. M-DCPS runs more than 1,000 magnet programs across the county, all tuition-free.

The district has not published a specific closing deadline for the 2026-27 application window. Families should check yourchoicemiami.org for updates; in the prior cycle, the deadline fell on Jan. 15, 2026. Open Seats spots fill on a first-come, first-served basis.

Magnet Schools of America, a national organization representing more than 4,000 magnet schools, recognized M-DCPS with 97 awards for the 2025-26 cycle.

MAST Academy, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, sits on Virginia Key and draws students from Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and across the county. A separate MAST campus at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay location recently broke ground on a $20.6 million building.

New superintendent makes magnet growth a top priority

Superintendent Rafael Villalobos, who took over this school year, told the Spanish-language outlet Diario Las Americas on Aug. 8 that promoting the district's magnet programs is one of his three most urgent priorities, along with stabilizing enrollment and achieving fiscal sustainability.

M-DCPS earned an A rating from the Florida Department of Education for 2025-26 and has posted a graduation rate above 95% for four consecutive years. The state also designated it an Academically High-Performing district for 2024-25, one of only 13 of Florida's 67 districts to earn that label.

Families can browse all 11 themes of study at yourchoicemiami.org or call MAST Academy at 305-365-6278 for program-specific questions.