Miami-Dade County College Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas delivered an inspiring handle in the course of the 2024 State of the College District, highlighting the collective efforts and unwavering dedication to offering an enriching, secure, and conducive studying atmosphere for each scholar.
Chair Rojas acknowledged the distinguished members of the College Board, the Superintendent, educators, directors, help workers, dad and mom, and college students for his or her collective efforts in advancing schooling in Miami-Dade County Public Faculties (M-DCPS).
Rojas highlighted a number of key achievements throughout her speech, emphasizing that M-DCPS has reached its highest commencement charge of 94.2% for conventional public faculties, surpassing the state common of 88%. The district additionally proudly maintains an “A” score for the fifth consecutive 12 months and is acknowledged because the third-largest faculty district within the nation.
Among the many notable accomplishments, Rojas identified that M-DCPS boasts the biggest faculty police division within the nation, with over 450 officers devoted to making sure scholar security. Moreover, in 2023, 61% of M-DCPS college students who took Superior Placement exams scored three or increased, outperforming the state common by almost 5%.
The district continues to strengthen partnerships with establishments of upper studying, providing twin enrollment programs by Miami-Dade Faculty, Florida Worldwide College, Florida Memorial College, College of Miami, and Barry College. Magnet Faculties of America has acknowledged M-DCPS with 84 awards for the 2023-2024 award cycle, the best variety of any faculty district nationwide.
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Rojas additionally famous that over the previous 5 years, greater than 8,000 M-DCPS graduating seniors have earned the Florida Seal of Biliteracy, with over 1,400 receiving the silver seal. In April 2024, the U.S. Information & World Report ranked three M-DCPS excessive faculties within the Prime 100 Finest Excessive Faculties in the US, whereas 16 faculties made the Prime 100 in Florida.
Regardless of these successes, Rojas emphasised the district’s ongoing challenges, together with making certain security and safety, increasing early childhood applications, addressing instructor shortages, and advocating for improved schooling funding. The district stays dedicated to creating an inclusive tradition the place each scholar is valued and supported.
In closing, Chair Rojas expressed gratitude to Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres for his management and imaginative and prescient. She inspired collaboration amongst faculty board members, educators, and the neighborhood to reinforce scholar success and parental help.
“The state of our faculty system is powerful due to our college students, lecturers, directors, faculty law enforcement officials, workforce, dad and mom, neighborhood, and native leaders,” Rojas said, reaffirming the dedication to the M-DCPS neighborhood and its future.