THE NEED FOR SEED
College graduates earn more, are healthier, and are far more civically engaged. Most importantly, a college degree remains the most reliable facilitator of upward mobility for families with the lowest incomes. Unfortunately, post-secondary attainment remains out of reach for the majority of those that would most benefit from it.
ONLY HALF OF ALL LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY ENROLL IN COLLEGE.
An alarming amount of children in South Florida are living in poverty. For many of these children, a tuition-free boarding school is the solution in breaking the entrenched cycle of trauma and intergenerational poverty. SEED’s public boarding school model allows students, regardless of circumstances, to achieve academic success, economic independence, and to break the cycle of poverty.
SEED MIAMI WAS CREATED TO SERVE
STUDENTS
WITH THE MOST NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY
OUR STUDENTS
SEED recruits a diverse population of students from South Florida’s under-resourced communities. Nationally, SEED graduates are approximately 80% first-generation collegebound. We proudly serve students across five counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, Palm Beach, and Monroe. Per state statute, students eligible for SEED Miami meet the following guidelines:
Be a resident of the state of Florida; eligible to attend school in a participating school district
Be from a family whose gross income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
Eligible students must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
The child is covered under the terms of the state’s Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration project. The child is in foster care or has been declared an adjudicated dependent.
A member of the student’s immediate family has been incarcerated. The student resides in a household that receives a housing voucher or has been determined eligible for public housing assistance.
The student’s head of household is not the student’s custodial parent.
Be eligible for benefits or services funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. ON AVERAGE, OUR
STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES:
24 HOURS TO GROW
At SEED Miami, our students live on our college-prep campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. Using the gift of time that comes with a 24-hour program, SEED reaches beyond the traditional school day and challenges students to thrive in a rigorous academic environment, prepares them for college, and teaches them essential character traits for lifelong success— perseverance, self-confidence, and self-discipline.
All of this happens in a safe, structured, and predictable environment-three healthy meals a day, consistent relationships with excellent role models, daily academic challenge and support, and extensive programs in athletics, visual and performing arts, and service. Students are held to strict performance standards and assessments to ensure their progress toward collegereadiness.
SEED’s goal is high school a SEED scholars are supported graduates become college gr
THE SEED M
Our Student Support Services program provides a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated approach to address the various needs of our students and families, while instilling the elements of resilience, consistency, and persistence. Available resources include access to 24/5 on-site mental and physical health services, therapeutic events, community resource fairs, and a mindfulness suite. 6
It is important for all of our SEED students to be exposed to a variety of experiences, learning opportunities, and fun activities. Each year, SEED Miami offers a range of exciting and enriching external opportunities including summer trips abroad, outdoor education programs, Senior Internships, and immersive experiences in art, culture, and sports.
Our College Transition & Success (CTS) team teaches students and families to navigate barriers to college completion through intensive advising. CTS programming begins in sixth grade and continues past high school graduation. Each SEED Miami graduate has a dedicated advisor to support them through their college journey.
In 2014, we made history by opening Florida’s only public college-preparatory boarding school. Over a decade later and we are still making history! Our achievements include:
100% of SEED Miami Graduates have been accepted into collegiate programs. Each year, SEED Scholars experience over a year's growth in reading level. Our graduates have matriculated to 29 colleges & universities.
SEED Miami is Cognia Accredited and a National Education Equity Lab School of Excellence.
Thanks to the unique SEED Model, SEED graduates are 4x more likely to graduate from college than a child with a similar demographic. In fact, when compared to national averages, SEED Network graduates have higher rates of:
High School Graduation (90% vs. 86%)
College Enrollment (98% vs. 40%)
College Graduation (48% vs. 34%)
SEED MIAMI HISTORY
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
SEED Miami opens in August 2014 and welcomes 60 grade 6 scholars. Students live and learn on the campus of Florida Memorial University (FMU). The college colocation model serves as a daily reminder of the ultimate vision and goal for SEED scholars – college completion.
FROM SQUARE ONE TO WASHINGTON SQUARE
SEED Miami expands to serve students in grades 6-7. The residential component of the program continues at FMU while students learn at a second location in Miami Gardens, known as Washington Square. Early indicators support the efficacy of our model. In fact, 91% of students receive a “Ready” or “Close” score on the ACT Aspire Summative Assessment.
SEED MIAMI BLOOMS
SEED Miami reaches fullscale middle school capacity, serving students in grades 6-8. Students are transported daily from the residential program at FMU to Washington Square for learning. Our scholars continue to excel as 65% of 7th graders close the year reading on or above grade level, up from 16% at the year's start.
SEED PERSEVERSES
With a 90% re-enrollment rate, SEED begins its high school program, and, having out-grown FMU, relocates the residential program to Coconut Grove. Unfortunately, within just weeks, Hurricane Irma destroys the property. Students are relocated to Hotel Roma in Miami Gardens. In spite of the numerous moves and the natural disaster, we outperform network schools on the ACT in all 3 subjects.
THE ROAD HOME
Through an agreement with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), SEED Miami, now serving grades 610, finds a new home at the Westview K-8 Center in OpaLocka. The residential component of SEED’s program continues at Hotel Roma while students learn at the Westview campus. SEED Miami breaks ground on the construction of 3 dorms.
GROWING FORWARD
SEED Miami welcomes students in grades 6-11 as construction and capital upgrades continue on the Westview campus. As the end of the 2019-2020 school year approaches, SEED Miami shifts all 24-hour programs and services to virtual platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parental buy-in & satisfaction drives a significant increase in yearend persistence.
TAKE ROOT
SEED Miami serves students in grades 6-12 and begins the year in a fully virtual setting. SEED is accredited by NCA CASI, NWAC, & SACS CASI, renews its charter with MDCPS for 8 years, finishes construction on the dormitories, and unveils a new basketball court. SEED Miami's founding scholars graduate and 100% secure admission into collegiate programs.
UNMATCHED GROWTH
SEED Miami opens the school year with 100% of scholars living and learning on the Westview campus. The school’s programming expands to include Senior Internship and Dual Enrollment Programs. SEED Miami’s second graduating class breaks records with nearly 250 college & university acceptances and exceeds all network goals.
STRENGTHENING OUR ROOTS
SEED Miami continues to flourish. The school is recognized as a National Equity Lab School of Excellence. The athletics program expands with the opening of a weight-lifting facility. The boys Flag Football team wins the League Championship Game and 100% of the Class of '23 are accepted into 2 or more endorsed colleges.
TENACIOUS. INTENTIONAL. PERSISTENT.
The 2023-2024 school year marks a decade since The SEED School of Miami, Florida’s first and only college-preparatory public boarding school, opened its doors. The school receives national recognition when Good Morning America visits SEED’s campus to award a grant from Good Sports and Centr.
Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Inc. | ACH Legal | Adler Family Foundation, Inc.
Alvin Ailey | Teresa & Dave Albert | AMD Family Fund | Frank Armstrong
Adrienne Arsht Center | AutoNation | Melissa Babil | Bam, Brooks & Brotherhood
The Batchelor Foundation, Inc. | The Battier Take Charge Foundation | Beacon Prep
Jason Bloch | Blue Missions | Blue Missions | Ginny Boschen | Bots for All, Inc.
The Brady Hunter Foundation | Braman Family Foundation | Aviva D. Budd | Ann Burris
Tom Cabrerizo | Carnival Foundation | Carson Scholars Fund | Andrew Philip Carton
David and Lelia Centner Charitable Foundation | Centr | CFH Group
Charter School Growth Fund | Clayton Chinquee | Alison Clasby Harke | Jason Claxton
Armando Codina | The Concours Club | Carol & Gerald Cope | Complex Health & Wellness
The Cornerstone Group Creative Lab | Thomas Culmo | Dakota Wealth Management
The Dallas Foundation | Christopher V. Damian | Melanie Damian
Damian, Valori, & Culmo | Kenneth Dante Murena | Jaret L. Davis | Carlos de la Cruz, Jr.
The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation | Bob & Andria Dickinson | Paul & Swanee DiMare
Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein P.A. | Scott Dimond | Prince Rosario Drago, L.M.H.C
Educate Tomorrow | Dennis Edward | DD Eisenberg | Virginia Emmons & Brett McNaught
Gareth Evans | Everglades Foundation | eXp Realty | Exquisite Catering by Robert
Eye Urban TV | Feeding South Florida | The Fine & Greenwald Foundation
Florida Academy of Nursing | Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program | David Flory
Flying Classroom | Fontainebleau Aviation | GableStage | Elizabeth W. Galvin
Patrick Gannon | The Garner Foundation, Inc. | Gatorade | General Mills Foundation Girls, Inc. | Global Field Academy | Cheryl & Adam Goldstein | Good Sports
Greenberg Traurig, P.A. | Kenneth Greenblatt | Alexander Hancock | Michael A. Hanzman
Nancy T. Hector | Mark & Elizabeth Heise | The Hive | The Hope Family Partners Fund
Incubate Debate | Investor Solutions, Inc. | Israelson Family Foundation
Joseph Samuel Isicoff Memorial Fund | I've Been Framed | Frank & Deborah Jimenez
Alise Johnson Henry | Donald Jones | JP Morgan Chase Bank | Kaplan Family Foundation
Kaufman Rossin | The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust
The Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation | Kathleen Kennedy Foundation
Khalia Montessori | Young Kings | Kirk Foundation | Laube Family Foundation
David Lawrence, Jr. | The Leight Foundation | Doug & Kaisa Levine Family Foundation
Lockdown Miami | Jorge Lopez | Mara Mades | Martin Margulies | Jason Mazer
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation | Medina Family Foundation | Tery J. Medina
The Miami Foundation | The Miami Heat Charitable Fund | Miami Waterkeepers
Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Marian Milgram | The Miller Family
Adrianne Mittentag | Gerald Moore | Morgan Stanley Foundation | Kapila Mukamal
Donald G. Munson | Al & Jane Nahmad Family Foundation | Tony Napoliello
National Education Equity Lab | Neptune Aquatics | Network For Good New Community Fund | Nu Deco Ensemble | Nunberg Family Foundation
Opa Locka Community Development Corp. | Our Kids | Peacock Foundation. Inc.
Pérez Art Museum Miami | Jorge M. Pérez | Perry Ellis International | PetMeds
Alexandra Pope | Lesley Poole | Adam Potamkin | Andi Potamkin
Potamkin Family Foundation | Raytheon Technologies | Ed Reed Foundation
Annie & Dave Rego | Steven D. Robinson | Michael Rose | David Rothstein
Ron and Olivia Rothstein | Chanel Rowe | Roxy Theatre Group | Savent Financial
Schreibman Family Charitable Fund | The SEED Foundation | Victoria Shahbaz
Kathleen Shanahan | Sidman Family Foundation | Paul & Marte Singerman
Sketchers | Robert Smith | Jacquelyn Soffer | Marsha Soffer | Michele Soffer | Sol-REIT
Jeff & Lucy Spoerk | Andi Steinacker & Rob Hopson | Kele Marcia Stewart
The Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation, Inc. | Suited for Success | Marguerite W. Sullivan
Tom Sullivan Supporting Strategies Miami | Stanley Tate | Dorothy A. Terrell
Custodio Toledo | Robert and Jane Toll Fund | Roger Tovar | The Jessie Trice Community
Health System TriMix Foundation | Triumph Steps | Jonathan Tucker
US Water Polo Association | Peter F. Valori | Gale & Freto Vazquez Napoliello | Venafi
Vulcan Materials Company Zaire Wade | Eric Wagner | The Walmart Foundation
Randall J. Waterfield | Gigi Whitman | Lance Williams | Kelly & Sally Yeung
Nita & Stephen Yeung | Young Musicians Unite | Young Green Foundation
Dean & Jania Ziff | Zoo Miami To
