By Coral Gables Gazette staff

A spirit of optimism prevailed during the July 18 meeting of the Coral Gables School Community Relations Committee, as community members and school officials gathered to celebrate a year of exceptional academic achievement in local public schools.

Miami-Dade County School Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas, the committee’s featured guest, shared the headline news: every public school in Coral Gables earned an “A” grade last academic year—except Ponce de Leon Middle School, which itself showed strong improvement, jumping from a “C” to a “B.”

“In the City Beautiful, (almost) every single school in the city of Coral Gables is ‘A’ rated,” Rojas said. “The only one not is Ponce, but they went from a C to a B. Regardless of challenges because of the pandemic and our diverse population… we could reach the academic success that we strive for on a daily basis.”

The schools earning top marks included George Washington Carver Elementary, Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, West Laboratory Elementary, International Studies Preparatory Academy, and Coral Gables Senior High School.

Committee Chair Winnie Chang praised both the academic outcomes and the upward trajectory of schools still striving for excellence.

“It is so great that we have so many A schools, but also that we are bringing up the tail end—with no Fs,” Chang said.

County schools show broad gains

Rojas expanded on districtwide trends across Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), the nation’s fourth-largest school district and the largest in Florida. For the sixth consecutive year, the district earned an overall “A” rating, placing eighth among Florida’s 67 districts.

Of the nearly 400 public schools across the county, 64 percent received A grades, 22 percent earned B’s, and 14 percent were rated C. No schools received failing grades, and the district’s graduation rate climbed to a record 91.8 percent, a 1.5 percentage point increase over the prior year.

Rojas credited the results to a strong emphasis on academic rigor and districtwide unity.

“We have challenges, but our educators, families, and students have shown what’s possible when we focus on excellence,” she said.

Concerns over teacher retention

Committee member Cecilia Slesnick offered a more cautionary note, warning that state-level education policies may be undermining the district’s ability to retain top educators.

“We need to continue to thank our teachers, but when we are losing high-quality teachers because of things happening in Tallahassee, we need to not forget about that,” she said.
Slesnick noted that one local school had recently lost four of its best educators to better pay and working conditions elsewhere.

In response, Rojas pointed to a 2 percent salary increase for teachers negotiated through cooperation with the Florida Legislature—an increase higher than the originally proposed 1.5 percent. Still, she acknowledged that more systemic investment was needed, especially in school infrastructure.

Coral Gables Senior High sees major investment

Rojas highlighted the evolving transformation of Coral Gables Senior High School, which she said is finally receiving the investment it deserves. The original allocation of $11 million for repairs has grown to $86 million, she said, thanks to advocacy and collaborative pressure.

“We started with $11 million granted for repairs, which was unacceptable. Now we’re up to $86 million,” she said. “Paint is horrific, buildings are falling apart.”
But, she added, “Coral Gables Senior High is receiving a major facelift,” noting a new gym is nearly complete and other construction is well underway.

She also voiced support for a proposed general obligation bond to support long-term capital needs across the district, citing deteriorating conditions in many aging school buildings.

No staff reductions despite federal cuts

When asked about the potential impact of looming federal education budget cuts, Rojas sought to reassure the community.

“As of now, nothing has changed,” she said. “We’re not going to have a reduction in workforce. We’re being proactive instead of reactive—reevaluating programs we might not need. But parents listening should not panic.”

Cell phone ban and start time proposal deferred

Chang addressed two controversial statewide proposals that stirred debate earlier this year: a ban on student cell phone use during school hours and a mandated later school start time. Neither measure will take effect this academic year.

“These proposals will not be implemented this school year,” she said, crediting the district’s advocacy efforts and desire to maintain local flexibility.

Committee leadership continues

In a show of confidence, committee members unanimously reappointed Chang as chair and selected Slesnick as vice chair. Sam Joseph, who also nominated himself for chair, did not receive a second.

Chang thanked her colleagues and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting public education.

“It’s an honor to continue leading this committee, especially after our success getting education recognized in the City’s Strategic Plan,” she said.

The Coral Gables School Community Relations Committee will continue to advance initiatives under the city’s Education Compact, aimed at strengthening the connection between the city and its public schools.