Families seeking admission to International Studies Preparatory Academy in Coral Gables have until Jan. 15, 2027, to apply for the 2027-28 school year through Miami-Dade County Public Schools' magnet program.

The school, located at 1570 Madruga Ave., offers specialized international education programs in French, Italian and Spanish. It accepts applications from students entering ninth and 10th grades, with admission determined by academic eligibility and the district's selection process.

ISPA was the first international studies high school in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Its curriculum combines Florida graduation requirements with international language instruction and cultural studies developed through partnerships with educational institutions and government representatives from France, Italy and Spain.

The school has earned national and international recognition. It received Spain's "Colegio del Año" award in 2015, became the first school in the Americas to receive France's LabelFrancÉducation recognition and earned a Magnet School of Excellence award in 2018. Its French program also received the American Association of Teachers of French's Exemplary Program with Honors designation for 2025-28, recognizing the quality of its language instruction.

Academic requirements for applicants

Students must meet academic, attendance and conduct requirements to qualify for admission, according to ISPA's official admissions page.

Ninth-grade applicants must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 in core academic subjects across seventh and eighth grades. They must also be enrolled in Algebra I and Physical Science and earning at least a C in both courses when they apply.

Tenth-grade applicants must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 across eighth and ninth grades. They must be enrolled in Geometry and Biology and earning at least a C in both subjects.

The district's magnet eligibility criteria also include subject-specific academic and conduct requirements. Families should review the requirements for their selected program before applying.

Applicants cannot have a conduct grade below C in any course. They also cannot have more than five absences during the first semester or 10 absences during a full school year.

Meeting the requirements makes a student eligible for consideration but does not guarantee admission.

Language testing dates announced

ISPA offers five language programs, each with different admission requirements.

Students applying to the International Studies tracks in French, Italian or Spanish must demonstrate proficiency in their selected language through an examination. Students applying to the International Education tracks in French or Italian do not need a language proficiency exam.

The district's magnet directory lists four testing dates for International Studies applicants:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027
  • Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027
  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027
  • Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2027

All sessions are scheduled from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at ISPA. Students should arrive by 2:30 p.m. and bring a school or photo ID. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours.

Registration for the proficiency exam is completed through the online magnet application. Required testing must be scheduled by Jan. 15 and completed before March 1, according to the district's application rules.

Montserrat Ledo, the school's magnet lead teacher, is the contact for language testing questions at [email protected].

How families can apply

Parents and guardians must submit applications through the M-DCPS Parent Portal.

The district's magnet application process directs families to access the admissions application, verify their student's information and select the magnet application form.

Families may apply to as many as five schools, choosing one program at each school. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 15.

Students attending private schools, charter schools or schools outside M-DCPS must also submit transcripts covering their previous and current school years directly to ISPA by the deadline.

The transcripts should be sent to International Studies Preparatory Academy, 1570 Madruga Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33146.

Lottery results expected in March

Students who meet ISPA's entrance requirements are entered into the district's magnet selection process. A third-party computer system conducts the random selection, taking into account program eligibility and applicable district admission priorities.

Parents are expected to receive placement results around March 15, 2027, through their selected notification method.

Families offered admission must confirm their acceptance through the online magnet application system within approximately two weeks. Seats not accepted by the deadline may be offered to students on the waiting list.

Students who are not initially selected may remain on the waiting list as openings become available.

ISPA also reviews students' academic and conduct records before finalizing admission. The school states that acceptance can be revoked if a student's final grades or conduct no longer meet its entrance requirements.

Principal Dr. Alina M. Diaz-Blanco leads the school. Families seeking additional information about admission, language programs or campus visits can call 305-663-7200 or visit the school's website.