Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week at Miami Springs Senior High School to officially launch two new Career Dual Enrollment programs in Medical Assisting and Avionics. The programs will begin with the 2025-2026 school year and are designed to give students a head start in high-demand, high-wage careers.
“We saw that there was an interest in these programs and we knew we had to do this for our students,” said Dr. Cadian Collman-Perez, District Director for the Office of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education. “These programs give our students access to high-wage, high-demand careers in the health and avionics industries.”
The initiative is a collaboration between M-DCPS, Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College, and George T. Baker Aviation Technical College. It offers students the chance to earn industry certifications and gain hands-on experience in both medical and aviation technology fields—without leaving their high school campus.
Starting this fall, 90 students will be enrolled in the Medical Assisting Program, where they’ll take specialized courses each semester from the ninth through twelfth grades. The curriculum includes hands-on training in clinical skills such as taking vital signs, drawing blood, performing EKGs, administering injections, and assisting with advanced medical procedures.
In the Avionics Program, students will learn to install and maintain critical electronic aircraft systems, including navigation, communication, and radar technologies. The renovated avionics training lab features two flight simulators and advanced diagnostic equipment, giving students real-world troubleshooting experience.
At the end of their senior year, students in both programs will take a state certification exam—qualifying them to enter the workforce immediately.
“These programs open doors,” said Liliana Suarez, assistant principal of Miami Springs Senior High. “We’re partnering with George T. Baker Aviation Technical College and Miami International Airport to offer our avionics students field trips, mentorships, and job shadowing opportunities. We hope to offer similar experiences to our medical assisting students through Jackson Memorial Hospital.”
With a strong focus on workforce readiness, the new programs at Miami Springs Senior High aim to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world career paths, giving students a valuable advantage as they enter competitive job markets.
