Miami school admissions for 2027–28: magnet dates, deadlines and records

How do Miami-Dade magnet applications work for 2027–28?

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools Magnet Schools Catalog 2027–2028 lists one route for new and current district families alike: the M-DCPS Parent Portal, signed in with an Apple or Google ID. Each child's application lists up to five schools, with one programme at each, and is submitted by 11:59 p.m. on 15 January.

• Auditions for fine arts programmes and language proficiency testing for selected international and advanced studies programmes are scheduled before the application is submitted, and the catalogue states that all auditions and tests take place before 1 March.
• Parents and legal guardians receive the application results on 15 March.
• Applications may reopen on 16 March for programmes with seats still available, and those seats are filled with eligible applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The catalogue lists more than 350 magnet programmes.

How are Miami-Dade magnet places decided?

The Miami Magnet Schools magnet application questions (checked 2 November 2026) state that most magnet programmes select eligible applicants through a random lottery, and that fine arts programmes select by audition. Magnet programmes and schools are open across attendance boundaries, and every student applies for a place, including students who live inside the school's own boundary.

How do Palm Beach County Choice applications work for 2027–28?

The School District of Palm Beach County takes 2027–2028 Choice applications at mypbchoiceapp.com from 8 October to 4 December 2026, and every applicant needs a Palm Beach County Student ID number, requested from 8 September to 4 December 2026.

The district's 2027–2028 Choice and Career Options booklet opens Choice programmes to future residents of Palm Beach County and releases lottery assignment notifications between 15 and 26 February 2027.

Palm Beach County School Choice deadlines for 2027–28 sets out the Student ID request, the application window and the lottery order.

Which records do Florida schools ask for at first entry?

The Florida Department of Health states that students in prekindergarten through grade 12 making their initial entry into a Florida school present a record of a school-entry health examination completed within one year before enrolment, signed by a health care provider licensed to perform physical exams in the U.S.

Form DH 680, the Florida Certification of Immunization, documents the required immunisations and is completed by a licensed Florida physician, advanced practice registered nurse or Florida county health department.

Section 1003.22 of the Florida Statutes (2026) sets the school-entry health examination requirement in law. Section 1003.21 makes children who will be 5 on or before 1 September eligible for public kindergarten in that school year, and requires children aged 6, or 6 by 1 February of the school year, up to age 16, to attend school.

Independent healthcare professionals deliver the advice; Le Strand coordinates it into the Landing Plan. UK school year to US grade sets England's year groups beside Florida's entry ages, and the International Families Guide lists the enrolment records in order.

When does the Miami-Dade school year run?

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2026–2027 school calendar runs from the first day of school on 13 August 2026 to the last day on 3 June 2027, 180 days in total. Winter recess runs from 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 and spring recess from 22 to 26 March 2027.

What does a 2027–28 admissions timeline look like?

The table lists the dates from the two county districts, checked on 2 November 2026, in the order they fall.

Serena Orgin is the founder and principal of Le Strand, a practising attorney admitted in New York and a Florida real estate broker. Le Strand serves families in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Miami school admissions for 2027: questions and answers

When do Miami-Dade magnet applications for 2027–28 close?

Miami-Dade County Public Schools takes 2027–2028 magnet applications from 1 October 2026 to 11:59 p.m. on 15 January 2027, through the M-DCPS Parent Portal. Each application lists up to five schools with one programme at each, and parents and legal guardians receive the results on 15 March 2027.

Is a Miami-Dade magnet programme open to students outside its attendance boundary?

Yes. The Miami Magnet Schools application questions state that magnet programmes and schools are open across attendance boundaries, and every student applies for a place. Most programmes select eligible applicants through a random lottery, and fine arts programmes select by audition.

Can a family moving to Palm Beach County apply before it arrives?

Yes. The School District of Palm Beach County's 2027–2028 booklet opens Choice programmes to future residents of the county. Applications run from 8 October to 4 December 2026, each applicant needs a Palm Beach County Student ID number, and lottery assignment notifications are released between 15 and 26 February 2027.

Which health records does a Florida school ask for at first entry?

The Florida Department of Health asks students making their initial entry into a Florida school for a school-entry health examination completed within one year before enrolment, and for Form DH 680, the Florida Certification of Immunization, completed by a licensed Florida physician, advanced practice registered nurse or Florida county health department.

Request a Private Landing Consultation

Related: Schools and family · Palm Beach County School Choice deadlines for 2027–28 · UK school year to US grade · International Families Guide

Sources (checked 2 November 2026): Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Magnet Schools Catalog 2027–2028; Miami Magnet Schools, Magnet Application; School District of Palm Beach County, School Choice and 2027–2028 Choice and Career Options booklet; Florida Department of Health, School Enrollment; Florida Statutes (2026) ss. 1003.21, 1003.22; Miami-Dade County Public Schools, 2026–2027 School Calendar; Le Strand, About.