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With the arrival of the new year, 2026, it is a moment not just for reflection but for profound gratitude.
I extend my sincere thanks to the dedicated staff, administrators, and teachers of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). Their commitment to the students and families of our community is the fuel behind our success, and the evidence is clear.
Through their hard work, M-DCPS has solidified its position as a national leader. We have earned an A rating for the sixth consecutive year, were designated a high-performing school district by the State of Florida, and proudly achieved an all-time high graduation rate exceeding 95 percent. These results demonstrate that the promise of a world-class education is being delivered right here in Miami-Dade.
Our success is anchored in four core principles that drive every decision we make: Excellence, Choice, Innovation, and Safety.
Bedrock of education in Miami-Dade
For more than 140 years, M-DCPS has been the bedrock of education in this community.
There is simply no other institution that impacts the lives of our residents quite like our public school system. Our commitment is lifelong. We open our classrooms from Pre-K — now offered in over 223 schools — and continue through our adult and continuing education centers. We recognize that lifting a community requires making education accessible to all ages, including through our seven fully accredited technical colleges, which offer over 60 paths to high-demand careers.
Central to this mission is academic proficiency. Each year, we face the nationwide challenge of raising the bar for student learning. And 2025 was a banner year because we crossed a critical threshold, reaching the 60 percent mark of students performing at grade level and above. In the foundational third grade, this figure rose to 65 percent. While we celebrate these milestones, we know that for every child who succeeds, there is another whose future demands our continuous, unrelenting effort. We will never stop innovating to ensure the academic progress of all our students continues to soar.
The power of choice and innovation
We fundamentally believe that one size does not fit all in education. That is why M-DCPS has definitively moved away from the outdated model of neighborhood-bound schooling.
Choice is about honoring the unique path of every child and empowering every family to find the environment where their children truly belong and thrive. If a child has a particular talent or passion, M-DCPS offers unparalleled opportunities, including 128 magnet schools and over 395 specialized education programs spread across M-DCPS.
Hand-in-hand with choice is innovation. The future is already here, and innovation equips our children with the tools they need to thrive in a world that never stops changing. Our schools are filled with programs that span high-growth fields — from technology, cybersecurity, and biotechnology to culinary arts and health sciences. This focus on relevance is paying dividends: we have increased the number of students participating in dual enrollment courses (earning transferable university credits) by a dramatic 48 percent in just two years. Currently, 16,000 high school students participate in dual enrollment, and 34,000 are enrolled in rigorous Advanced Placement courses, a testament to the quality of our teachers and programs.
Safety: A top priority
Finally, a top priority is, and will always be, safety. This is our heartfelt commitment to creating a nurturing environment where every student can walk through our doors feeling secure, cared for, and ready to learn.
This commitment is realized through action. We maintain the largest school police force in the nation, with close to 500 school police officers. We assign a dedicated school police officer to every one of our schools, making them a trusted, familiar part of the school community. This level of comprehensive, community-based policing is invaluable because it builds the trust necessary for students to speak up and avert dangerous situations. This is a crucial element that few school districts can deliver.
M-DCPS is looking fosward to a bright new year, energized by the collaboration of our school board, staff, parents, and community. We are working together to give our students the best possible education and the brightest future — to give our students the world.
Dr. Jose L. Dotres is Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
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