Established in 1957 as one of the first all-Black high schools in Miami-Dade County, North Dade became a junior high school in 1968. In 1976, it was reconfigured to a middle school. In the late 1990s, a small International Affairs Magnet Program for Spanish/French language acquisition diversified the curriculum. The school resides within the city limits of Miami Gardens, which is located in the North Central region of Miami-Dade County. Miami Gardens is a solid, working, middle class community of unique diversity. The demographics of the City is 79% African American, 16% Hispanic, and 5% Asian/White/Other. Students from the neighboring Opa-Locka community are served.
In 2002, North Dade Middle School became an International Magnet School. Today, North Dade Middle School is an International Baccalaureate World School (Middle Years Program – MYP) and community middle school for students in grades 6-8. The campus is located on 17 Acres in the City of Miami Gardens. In 2010, the school building was condemned due to structural concerns and all students were relocated to a local high school just days before the administration of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. After two years of construction, North Dade Middle School reopened to students on August 20, 2012 to a rebuilt state of the art campus and currently serves 770 students. The ethnic/racial makeup of the student population is 1% White, Non-Hispanic, 13% Hispanic, and 86% Black (Non-Hispanic including many students of Haitian parents). The school demographics also includes 7% Exceptional Student Education (SPED), 7% English Language Learners (ELL), 8% Gifted, and 91% Economically Disadvantaged populations. Ninety-one percent of the students enrolled receive free and reduced lunch.
The staff at North Dade Middle is comprised of 2 administrators, 3 academic coaches, 50 classroom teachers, 1 media specialist, and 2 paraprofessionals. Sixty-four percent of the teachers are highly qualified, 16% are ESOL endorsed, 18% are reading endorsed, 48% possess advanced degrees, and 2% are national board certified.
Over the past three years, North Dade has experienced a change in student enrollment due to the closing of nearby Westview Middle School and Parkway Middle School. Students previously residing within attendance boundaries of both schools now attend North Dade Middle School resulting in an increase in enrollment from 550 students in 2010 to 770 students. The increase in the student population presents a unique challenge in facility space utilization, program delivery, and master scheduling as we are operating at 100% capacity.
