- MAST Academy
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MAST Academy 
Established 1990 Type Public magnet Principal Jane Garraux Faculty 37.0 (on FTE basis)[1] Students 544 (as of 2008-09)[1] Grades 9–12 Location Virginia Key, Miami, Florida, USA District Miami-Dade County Public Schools Colors Red, Blue, and White Mascot Mako Shark Hours 8:00AM – 3:00PM Website http://www.GoMakos.com/ Maritime and Science Technology Academy, commonly referred to as MAST Academy, or MAST, is a public high school in Miami, Florida, on Virginia Key. MAST Academy is a magnet school under the governance of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The school's principal is Jane Garraux, appointed in August 2011. US News & World Report currently ranks MAST as the 66th best high school in the nation as of 2011.[2]
The academic focus of MAST Academy is primarily maritime studies. Students choose one of three major areas of study in which a traditional U.S. high school curriculum is infused with maritime-related subjects. These major areas of study are Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (OAS), Maritime Studies and Culture (MSC), and Marine Related Industries (MRI). Some special course offerings include: Marine Science, Film Studies, Solar Energy, Environmental Science, Sea Classics, Swimming, Ethics and Leadership, and Water Safety.
MAST Academy is located on Virginia Key, a barrier island between Miami and Key Biscayne, across the street from the Miami Seaquarium and within walking distance from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
In the 2009-2010 academic year, the school had an enrollment of 550 students and 42 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 14.9[1]).
Contents
Awards and recognition
MAST Academy was one of six national finalists in the 2010 White House "Commencement Challenge." People from across the nation voted to determine which school would host President Barack Obama as commencement speaker.[3]
During the 1994-96 and 2006-07 school years, MAST Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[4][5] the highest award an American school can receive.[6][7]
It has a tradition of academic excellence, and has three times been ranked among Newsweek's Top 100 High Schools.[8] With a 25:1 student-to-teacher ratio, MAST has been listed as one of "Miami-Dade's Best Schools".[9]
Demographics
The student body of MAST Academy is 48% Hispanic, 24% White, 17% Black, 5% Asian, and 6% other/multi-racial. [10]
Extracurricular activities
The main sports are water polo and swimming. The men and women's Soccer Teams are also competitive.
MAST is very active in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Competition, having established a tradition of placing first in the region and a fifth place national showing in 2006. The Black History Brain Bowl team won the 2006 Regional Championships.
MAST is home to the first Coast Guard JROTC chapter in the country, but is now declining due to budget cuts.
The band of MAST Academy is the steel drum band directed by Vincent Hamilton. The steel drum band won their division in the Florida State High School Jazz Band Competition in 1999.
The school's mascot is a mako shark named Isurus, after retiring a Pelican named Pete.
MAST's robotics and engineering team MAST Academy Mecha Makos, founded in 2006, has competed in numerous competitions including Youth Fair, MATE, FIRST, and most recently, FIUs Wall of Wind competition.
Publications
The Beacon, MAST's student-run newspaper, and the yearbook, Mako Fuka, have received Gold Medals from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
References
- ^ a b c Maritime & Science Technology Academy, National Center for Education Statistics Accessed October 27, 2007
- ^ USNEWS ranking
- ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement#vote-top Accessed April 26, 2010.
- ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
- ^ U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
- ^ CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
- ^ Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
- ^ "The Top of the Class 2008". MSNBC.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/. Retrieved 2009-10-21.[dead link]
- ^ Miami-Dade's Best Schools
- ^ http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/17664
External links
- MAST Academy
- M-DCPS School Information - MAST Academy
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Maritime & Science Technology Academy, National Center for Education Statistics
Coordinates: 25°44′20″N 80°09′59″W / 25.7388889°N 80.1663889°W
Categories:- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Blue Ribbon schools in Florida
- Educational institutions established in 1990
- United States Coast Guard
- High schools in Miami-Dade County
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