South Dade Middle School

Warning for Parents of Children with IEPsThis is the worst school experience I have ever had. When I transferred my daughter here, the administration failed to follow her existing IEP. Instead of progressing, she began to regress and lose skills she had already mastered.When I took my concerns to the Principal and the School Board, I was met with excuses. They actually tried to cut her services, claiming they saw "improvement" that was nowhere to be found in her actual work. I eventually pulled her out, but not before she lost half a year of progress.Beyond the academics, the administration is deeply concerning. I personally witnessed a Vice Principal and security guard physically restrain a student just because she wouldn't sit down. It was unbelievable.The Proof: I moved her to Somerset Homestead in 2024, where she now has a 4.0 GPA in high school. The problem wasn't my daughter; it was this school. Please look very carefully at the administration here before enrolling your child. Their future depends on it.

Teachers and staff are warm and welcoming. They care about the happiness and wellbeing of all students attending. The teachers and staff foster and model a kind and caring community spirit. The school does have a zero tolerance for conduct/behavioral issues which keep students/staff safe and decrease learning distractions. This is a very good attribute. I love being a part of this school community.

Do not send your child to the school!! My son is three years old and was in their pre-K3 program. Below, please read my email withdrawing my son from this school. First United Christian Methodist is FAKE all around!!First, I would like to say that we would like to officially withdraw from your school effective immediately. The excessive amount of text messages, emails, phone calls, and even an in person meeting for a three-year-old student is completely unnecessary rather than wasting the parents time. You should use that time to go back to school and get properly educated and accredited in the subject of early childhood education. Your consequences are completely inappropriate threatening to suspend a three year-old if he wasn’t picked up after acting like a dinosaur during chapel time. That is a punishment for the parents as a three year-old has no idea what a suspension is if anything it is a reward to get to go home early and stay home. It seems like your administration does not want to deal with bad behavior, but still wants to get paid for it. If you cared about the child’s behavior, you would do something about it instead of calling the parents to handle what you are incapable of handling. Which leads us to believe that all you care about is the money and not the child which is not the Christian way!! How is my child getting to the point of jumping on chairs through the chapel?? Where are the adults? Why are a group of adults unable to control a three year-old child there is no logical explanation. This entire situation should've been handled by your staff and notified to us at pickup time.This along with every message, phone call and email received was ridiculous. We understand that the large majority of your administration and faculty is new to the school or to their position, but that should not affect us.Keeping you all in our prayers as you sure will need it because of your administration/faculty’s incompetence. God bless you!

After more than ten years as a parent at St. John’s Episcopal School in Homestead, I can say with certainty that the school has lost its way. What was once a supportive, structured, and academically sound environment has become a disorganized, poorly led institution that prioritizes internal control over student growth and family involvement. The principal frequently makes major decisions without consulting parents, including a complete overhaul of the curriculum after COVID. This change, done without warning or transition planning, set many students back academically—mine included. My daughter’s kindergarten teacher during the pandemic could barely speak English, and when I raised this serious issue, the administration dismissed it. I now have to pay out of pocket for tutoring to address the gaps caused by that year. Communication is practically nonexistent. Last-minute messages via WhatsApp are the norm, and important dates or events are often shared with no time for parents to respond or plan. There’s also a total lack of enrichment: no meaningful field trips, limited hands-on learning, and events like Earth Day are reduced to simply watching a movie. The graduation banquet was a disaster. Parents paid for a formal event with high hopes of celebrating the students. Instead, there were no speeches, no recognition, and the principal’s only contribution was suggesting a game of musical chairs. It was disorganized and disrespectful to the students and families who invested years into that school. Despite ongoing financial requests from the school, there’s no evidence of that money being invested in improving facilities, academics, or student experiences. Perhaps the most laughable example of the school’s dysfunction is the fact that their sign labels the institution as “St. John’s Episcopal School – Second Grade on google,” even though it serves grades kindergarten through eighth don’t believe me look it up right now it’s been like that, but I think about three years.. It’s a small but glaring example of the lack of attention to detail and overall disorganization. If they can’t even get their own name and grade range right, how can parents trust them to manage their children’s education? I’ve since moved my youngest daughter to a new school that offers more for less money—better academics, consistent communication, educational field trips, and a supportive environment. I only wish I had made the change sooner.