Please explain the school system? (Miami: neighborhood, magnet schools, living in)

[vickieny]

I feel like the public elementary school you get into doesn't just depend on where you live and what you're zoned for? I've been looking at Zillow and Trulia and they list schools that children in a building or neighborhood attend, usually with "assigned" in parentheses next to the school's name. But I've also learned from reading comments on GreatSchools that many schools are magnet and therefore lottery even if they're technically your assigned school. There are also so many charters within spitting distance of so many schools, particularly downtown!

Should we try to get an apt as close to the school that appeals most to us, or is it really a matter of luck at this point?

[doggiebus]

Magnet Schools are a lottery system even if you live across the street. Your child has to have spent one year at a regular Miami-Dade School before they can apply for a magnet school. Then its a lottery when they apply. Remember families that already have kids at the magnet schools automatically get their other children excepted to the magnet school their first child is at. A friend of mine lived two blocks from a magnet school and didn't get her child in, she had to bus her child to another school further away.

Charter Schools you just have to live in their district to get in. So if the Charter school is the "assigned" school that is your school as long as there is space. If they have too many kids for that school living in the district it becomes a lottery as well.

[hurricaneMan1992]

You can always call the school district to ask about a particular address, so you know for sure.

[valicky]

Also, there are some magnet schools where you audition or show a portfolio of your work to get in.