International Studies Preparatory Academy in Coral Gables ranked No. 18 in Florida and No. 144 nationally in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings, part of a strong Miami-Dade showing that put five district schools in the nation's top 100.
For families in Coral Gables, South Miami and Pinecrest weighing magnet and traditional high school options, the results released Tuesday, Aug. 18, offer fresh data on which programs are producing college-ready graduates.
Marine Academy of Science and Technology at FIU led the district at No. 31 nationally, followed by Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy (No. 55), iPreparatory Academy (No. 86), TERRA Environmental Research Institute (No. 87) and Design and Architecture Senior High School (No. 96), according to the district's announcement.
Superintendent Jose L. Dotres celebrated the results on X on Aug. 21, calling the placements "incredible" and tagging each school.
What the rankings measure
U.S. News evaluated roughly 27,000 public high schools using 2023-24 school year data, produced in partnership with research firm RTI International. College readiness carries the heaviest weight at 30%, measured by AP and IB exam participation and performance. State assessment proficiency and performance account for 20% each, while underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rate each contribute 10%.
Local schools in the mix
Coral Reef Senior High placed No. 37 in Florida. Coral Gables Senior High did not appear in the national top 100 or Florida's top 50, though it earned a National Magnet Merit Award in January.
Fifteen M-DCPS schools total made Florida's top 50, a list that also includes MAST Academy on Key Biscayne (No. 14 in Florida), Young Women's Preparatory Academy (No. 21) and New World School of the Arts (No. 23).
Year-over-year gains
The improvement is measurable. In the 2025 rankings, only four M-DCPS schools cracked the national top 100, and none ranked higher than No. 73. MAST @ FIU jumped from No. 74 to No. 31. Jose Marti MAST climbed from No. 73 to No. 55. iPreparatory Academy is new to the top 100 entirely.
The district also holds its seventh consecutive "A" rating from the Florida Department of Education, announced July 1, with 99% of schools earning grades of A, B or C.
Investment follows performance
The rankings land as M-DCPS continues investing in its top-performing magnets. In March, the district broke ground on a $20.6 million building project at MAST @ FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus. "This new addition provides a greater opportunity for students to learn within a very special environment," Dotres said at the March 11 groundbreaking. "It's almost like a live laboratory."
Florida ranked fourth nationally for the share of high schools in the top 25%, with 42.6% of eligible schools making that tier.
Families interested in magnet programs can check open-seat availability for the 2026-27 school year at dadeschools.net.
