MAST Academy

In 1990, MAST Academy was established in Key Biscayne.{{sfn|Kushlan|Hines|2014|p=61}}

In 2012, the school announced that it would expand by 1,100 seats, with preference given to eligible Key Biscayne residents.{{cite news|last=Isensee|first=Laura|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/13/2848320/mast-academy-about-to-be-expanded.html|title=MAST Academy about to be expanded for Key Biscayne students|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=June 13, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2013}} It was controversial and highly debated whether residents of the Village of Key Biscayne should be opened up to all Key Biscayne high school students.{{cite web|last=DeFede|first=Jim|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/06/17/facing-south-florida-mast-academy/|title=Facing South Florida: MAST Academy|publisher=CBS Local|date=June 17, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2013}} A former student was reported as claiming, "I can't believe they are going to turn over the school to the affluent residents of Key Biscayne in return for $9 million," adding, "it will really destroy what MAST is all about."{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/key-biscayne-paying-county-9-million-to-send-1-100-rich-kids-to-mast-academy-6549703|title=Key Biscayne Paying County $9 Million to Send 1,100 Rich Kids to MAST Academy|newspaper=Miami New Times|date=June 12, 2012|access-date=April 23, 2015}}

In April 2015, a school shooting threat was posed toward MAST Academy, as a note was found reading, "On April 17, 2015 I will walk into this school and shoot everyone I see."{{cite web|last=Brooks|first=Dawn|url=http://www.local10.com/news/threatening-letter-found-mast-academy-classroom-investigated/32351632|title=Threatening letter found MAST Academy classroom investigated|publisher=Local 10|date=April 13, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2015}} Some students decided to attend school on the day of the supposed shooting.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Students-Return-to-MAST-Academy-After-Threatening-Note-300271971.html|title=MAST Students Declare "I'm Not Afraid" After Threatening Note|publisher=NBC Miami|date=April 17, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2015}} In an interview with NBC 6 South Florida, one student was claimed his reasoning for attending to be, "I just really like learning, so I like going to class, and I'm not afraid." Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho later tweeted, "I am always impressed by the composure of our student body. 'I am not scared. I am here to learn.'"

MAST Academy now is a secondary school from 6-12 grade. Tours are available on Tuesdays during the academic year and are provided by their leadership students. No registration required.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gomakos.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=228093&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=664621|title = Admissions}}

Due to the reputation of the school, Miami-Dade County Public Schools began "franchising" MAST. In 2010, MAST Medical @ Homestead was established.{{cite web|url=http://news.dadeschools.net/releases/rls10/216_mast.html|title=New Magnet Senior High School, MAST @ Homestead to Hold Open House|date=August 2, 2010|access-date=October 2, 2013}} In 2011, José Martí Middle School introduced its magnet program with a high school expansion in 2011, before completely re-branding itself as José Martí MAST 6-12 Academy in 2013.{{cite news|last=McGrory |url=http://martimiddle.dadeschools.net/MAST/News%20Article.html |title=Miami-Dade district 'franchises' popular schools |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203054421/http://martimiddle.dadeschools.net/MAST/News%20Article.html |archive-date=December 3, 2013 }} In 2013, another MAST high school opened at a Florida International University campus, called MAST @ FIU Biscayne Bay Campus. {{cite web|last=Mursuli|first=Marlen|url=http://news.fiu.edu/2013/08/mastfiu-opens-its-doors/65672|title=MAST@FIU opens its doors|publisher=Florida International University|date=August 19, 2013|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf |title=Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] |publisher=United States Department of Education |access-date=May 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326055622/http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf|title=U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF)|publisher=United States Department of Education|access-date=May 11, 2006}} the highest award an American school can receive.{{cite web|url=http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 |title=CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department |publisher=Journal Inquirer |access-date=November 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819233705/http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 |archive-date=August 19, 2007 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-62354.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011162607/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-62354.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2013|title=Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 29, 2005|access-date=March 30, 2013}}"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."

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 a commencement speaker.{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/id/36739926/ns/today-white_house/#.UVeRM5NO-So|title=Voting begins for Commencement Challenge|publisher=NBC News|work=Today|date=April 23, 2010|access-date=March 30, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Feito|first=Yuri|url=http://www.causes.com/actions/1126546-mast-is-a-finalist-for-president-obamas-commencement-challenge|title=MAST is a finalist for President Obama's Commencement Challenge|publisher=Causes|date=April 26, 2010|access-date=March 30, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410165331/http://www.causes.com/actions/1126546-mast-is-a-finalist-for-president-obamas-commencement-challenge|archive-date=April 10, 2013}}

MAST has established a tradition of academic excellence, and has been ranked among Newsweek{{'}}s Top 100 High Schools several times.{{cite web|url=http://mast.dadeschools.net/admissions/faq.htm|title=MAST Academy Question & Answers|publisher=Dadeschools|access-date=March 30, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fldoe.org/news/2012/2012_06_27.asp|title=Newsweek Names Ten Florida High Schools to U.S. Top 100|publisher=Florida Department of Education|date=June 27, 2012|access-date=March 30, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213836/http://www.fldoe.org/news/2012/2012_06_27.asp|archive-date=October 4, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html|title=America's Best High Schools 2011|publisher=The Daily Beast|work=Newsweek|access-date=March 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016060407/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html|archive-date=October 16, 2011|url-status=dead}} It has been listed as one of "Miami-Dade's Best Schools", and, as of 2014, is ranked 10th in Florida.{{cite web|last=Chapple|first=Renee|url=http://miami.about.com/cs/education/a/aa031703.htm|title=Miami-Dade's Best Schools|publisher=About|access-date=March 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328220321/http://miami.about.com/cs/education/a/aa031703.htm|archive-date=March 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Medina|first=Marisol|url=http://fiusm.com/2013/07/29/mast-academy-at-bbc-begins-in-august/|title=MAST Academy at BBC Begins in August|publisher=Florida International University Student Media|date=July 29, 2013|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

MAST Academy is currently housed in the former Planet Ocean museum.{{Cite web|url=http://viewfromvirginiakey.blogspot.com/2010/04/|title=View from Virginia Key|website=viewfromvirginiakey.blogspot.com|access-date=2019-03-28}} Planet Ocean was an 80,000 sq.ft., interactive oceanographic museum featuring state of the art, hands on exhibits about the ocean (such as a giant piece of touchable iceberg), displays of deep sea submersibles, multi-media presentations, and other educational experiences.

The museum opened in the mid-seventies and was located across the street from the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key. Planet Ocean had trouble attracting enough visitors to be self-sustaining; it closed in 1991.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lostparks.com/planetocean.html|title=Planet Ocean : one of Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions|website=www.lostparks.com|access-date=2019-03-28}}

{{As of|2024}}, the school has an enrollment of 1548 students. {{As of|2013}}, the breakdown of the student's ethnicity is 60% Hispanic, 23% White, 10% Black, 5% Asian, and 2% unknown.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/mast-academy-4872/student-body|title=MAST Academy Student Body|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=October 2, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/17664|title=Mast Academy|publisher=Public School Review|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

The school's primary sports are water polo and swimming. The school also offers a boys' basketball team, boys' and girls' cross country teams, boys' and girls' soccer teams, boys' and girls' golf teams, boys' and girls' tennis teams, and a girls' volleyball team as of 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/mast-academy-makos-(key-biscayne,fl)/sports.htm|title=MAST Academy Makos Athletics and Sports Teams - Key Biscayne, FL|website=www.maxpreps.com|access-date=2019-03-28}}

MAST is active in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Competition, where it placed first in the region and fifth place in the nation in 2006. The Black History Brain Bowl team won the 2006 Regional Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gomakos.com/about/|title=MAST Academy About|publisher=Go Makos|access-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929112156/http://www.gomakos.com/about/|archive-date=September 29, 2013}}

MAST is home to the first Coast Guard JROTC unit in the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1712363/Coast-Guard-Seventh-District-commander-visits-MAST-Academy|title=Coast Guard Seventh District commander visits MAST Academy|publisher=United States Coast Guard News|date=February 27, 2013|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

The school's mascot is a mako shark named Isurus, after retiring a pelican named Pete.

The robotics and engineering team, the MAST Academy Mecha Makos, founded in 2006, has competed in numerous competitions including Youth Fair, MATE, FIRST, and FIU's Wall of Wind competition. The Mecha Makos qualified for the VEX World Championship in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 school years.{{cite web|url=http://blog-sa.gomakos.com/2012/03/05/congratulations-go-makos/|title=Congratulations! Go Makos!|publisher=Go Makos|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213203/http://blog-sa.gomakos.com/2012/03/05/congratulations-go-makos/|archive-date=October 4, 2013}}

The Beacon, MAST's student-run newspaper, and the yearbook, Mako Fuka, have received gold medals from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cspa/docs/contests-and-critiques/crown-awards/recipients/1999-scholastic-crown.html|title=1999 Scholastic Crown Recipients|publisher=Columbia Scholastic Press Association|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

• Akierra Missick, Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands{{cite news|url=http://www.rtc107fm.com/component/content/article/38-tci-elections/pnp/5957-akierra-missick.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201144907/http://www.rtc107fm.com/component/content/article/38-tci-elections/pnp/5957-akierra-missick.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |title=Election 2012: Akierra Missick |work=Radio Turks and Caicos 107 FM |date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=October 30, 2012 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.tcfreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=18%3Alocal&id=4070%3Apnp-cabinet-sworn-in-ministries-assigned&Itemid=75|title=PNP Cabinet Sworn, PDM Challenges 4 District Results|work=Turks & Caicos Free Press|date=November 19, 2012|access-date=December 28, 2012}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite book|title=Key Biscayne|first1=James A.|last1=Kushlan|first2=Kirsten|last2=Hines|year=2014|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-1-4671-1322-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uK5pBgAAQBAJ|access-date=April 23, 2015}}

{{Portal|Schools}}

• [http://www.GoMakos.org/ MAST Academy]
• [http://www2.dadeschools.net/schools/schoolinformation/school_details.asp?id=7161 M-DCPS School Information - MAST Academy]
• [http://www2.dadeschools.net/ Miami-Dade County Public Schools]
• [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1200390&ID=120039002809 Maritime & Science Technology Academy], National Center for Education Statistics
• [http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a189142.pdf Proposal for Partial Support of Miami Inner City Marine Project Summer Intern Program], Office of Naval Research 1987

{{MAST Academy}}

{{Miami-Dade Public Schools}}

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Category:1990 establishments in Florida

Category:Educational institutions established in 1990

Category:High schools in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Category:Magnet schools in Florida

Category:Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Category:Public high schools in Florida

Category:United States Coast Guard