Buyers shopping Miami's higher-end neighborhoods often want a short list of public schools they can verify, not adjectives. Using published Florida Department of Education school grades, GreatSchools ratings, and U.S. News magnet rankings, a few names come up repeatedly across Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, and Weston. Coral Gables Preparatory Academy holds a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating [1]. Pinecrest Elementary holds a 9 out of 10 and ranks in the top 5 percent of Florida schools for test scores [2]. On the high-school side, Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) was ranked #97 in the country by U.S. News for 2025-2026 [3], and José Martí MAST and Marine Academy of Science and Technology also placed inside the national top 100 the same cycle [4].

The practical takeaway for a home purchase is that attendance boundaries and choice-program eligibility are specific and change, so confirm the assigned school for any exact address with Miami-Dade County Public Schools before you write an offer. Below is how the most-referenced schools score on objective, published measures, organized by neighborhood.

Last updated: June 2026

How to read school data as a buyer

Three public data sources do most of the work. Florida assigns each public school an annual letter grade (A through F) based on state assessment results. GreatSchools publishes a 1-to-10 summary rating built largely on test-score and growth data. U.S. News ranks high schools nationally using college-readiness and graduation metrics. None of these describe the people in a community, and none should be used to infer who does or does not belong in a neighborhood. They measure published academic outcomes, which is the only lens used here.

One more buyer note. A strong assigned school can support demand for nearby homes, but it is one factor among many, including insurance, flood zone, and carrying cost. Treat it as part of the underwriting, not the whole thesis.

Pinecrest

Pinecrest is a low-density residential area south of the urban core, and its assigned elementary school is among the most-searched in the county. Pinecrest Elementary carries a 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating and ranks in the top 5 percent of Florida schools for overall test scores, placing roughly #20 among Florida elementary schools [2].

Because boundary lines here are tight, two homes a few blocks apart can feed different schools. Verify the assigned boundary for a specific parcel rather than relying on the neighborhood name. If you want to understand how a given address compares on price, you can request a home valuation for the parcel.

Coral Gables

The Coral Gables area is known for its Mediterranean-revival housing stock and tree-canopy streets. Its most-referenced public option is Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, a K-8 school formerly known as Coral Gables Elementary.

Coral Gables Preparatory Academy

The school holds a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools summary rating, indicating performance above the Florida average for schools serving the same grades [1]. It was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1993 [5]. Note that Blue Ribbon recognition is a point-in-time federal award, not a current annual grade, so pair it with the live GreatSchools and Florida-grade data when you evaluate it today. You can browse the surrounding area in the Coral Gables neighborhood guide.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove is one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods, with a mix of older cottages and newer construction under heavy tree cover. Its assigned elementary school is frequently cited for a language-immersion track.

Coconut Grove Elementary

Coconut Grove Elementary runs a French International Studies program, which lets students pursue a second language within the public curriculum. Language-immersion strands like this are competitive and sometimes run on application or lottery, so confirm current enrollment rules and any choice requirements directly with the school before assuming access by address.

Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne is an island community connected to the mainland by the Rickenbacker Causeway, served primarily by the Key Biscayne K-8 Center. The island also sits near MAST Academy, a marine-science magnet high school.

MAST Academy

MAST Academy is a magnet high school with a 100 percent AP participation rate and a top-15 ranking among Florida high schools in the U.S. News 2025-2026 list [6]. As a magnet, it admits by application and criteria rather than by home address, so living nearby does not guarantee a seat. Families relocating for water access often pair the school question with the home search during a buyer consultation.

Weston (Broward County)

Just north of the Miami-Dade line, Weston is a master-planned Broward city whose assigned high school is widely referenced by relocating families.

Cypress Bay High School

Cypress Bay is a large comprehensive high school with a broad Advanced Placement catalog and a 64 percent AP participation rate. U.S. News ranked it #730 nationally and #44 within Florida for 2025-2026 [7]. Because it sits in Broward rather than Miami-Dade, its attendance and choice rules follow Broward County Public Schools, a separate district with its own boundaries.

Magnet and choice programs

Beyond boundary-assigned schools, Miami-Dade runs a districtwide choice program. Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) and the MAST academies are magnet high schools that admit by application, audition, or academic criteria rather than by where a family lives. DASH was ranked #97 in the country by U.S. News for 2025-2026, with a 100 percent graduation rate [3], and four Miami-Dade magnet schools placed inside the national top 100 that cycle [4].

The buyer implication is straightforward. A magnet seat is earned through the application process, so a home's location does not by itself secure admission. If a specific magnet is central to your plan, confirm the application timeline and eligibility with the district before tying a purchase to it.

Frequently asked questions

Does buying near a top-rated school guarantee my child can attend it?

No. For boundary-assigned schools, attendance depends on the exact parcel's assigned boundary, which can differ block to block. For magnet schools like DASH and MAST, admission is by application and criteria, not by address. Always verify the assigned school and any application rules with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for a specific address.

Where can I find the official Florida school grade for a school?

The Florida Department of Education publishes annual A-F school grades, and GreatSchools publishes a separate 1-to-10 rating. Check both, since they use different methods and update on different schedules.

Are Weston schools part of the Miami-Dade district?

No. Weston is in Broward County and its schools, including Cypress Bay High School, are run by Broward County Public Schools, a separate district with its own boundaries and choice process.

Should school ratings drive my whole home-buying decision?

They are one input. A strong assigned school can support nearby demand, but insurance cost, flood zone, HOA fees, and carrying cost all factor into the underwriting. Weigh school data alongside the full cost of ownership.

Gabriel

Sources

Gabriel A. Moyers, PA. eXp Realty. Florida License #3407280. Equal Housing Opportunity. This article is general information as of June 2026 and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify current figures against authoritative sources before acting.

Top-rated public schools near Miami's luxury neighborhoods