John I. Smith K-8 Center in Doral | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	6/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2025 Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education.
Student Growth	6/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Florida Department of Education.

Posted: July 31, 2025

Excellent school in Doral. Ms. Martinez is a wonderful principal. She is available to parents and students all the time. My daughter is in middle school and has had a great experience in the Cambridge Academy classes. Teachers have addressed my concerns and have worked hard to help my daughter achieve her goal of receiving honor roll. So far great experience in moving to John I. Smith, My husband and I felt very welcome at the volunteer breakfast they hosted for new parents.

Posted: October 5, 2024

My granddaughter lasted 6 weeks at this school. Teachers are constantly yelling @ the students. The classroom is chaotic. Bullying on the playground. Unnecessary homework is given. Busy work in the classroom. Front end administrators rude to the parents and students. This school does not instill in its students love of learning or critical thinking. John I. Smith has failed its students.

Posted: June 3, 2022

They have amazing teachers and volunteers who truly care!!

Posted: April 14, 2022

This is for the middle school, not the elementary.
The elementary kids have more privilages than the middle school kids. They told us that we cannot use our phones in class (which i understand) but why can't we use it in the CAFETERIA OR IN THE HALLWAYS? The cafeteria is supposed to be a place to relax and take a break with friends. What about the hallways? The hallways are supposed to be for either people to wait for their homeroom if the teacher didn't arrive yet. It is obvious that people will want to use their phones so they will not get bored. But even that too? It seems a little...disapproving. Also, there are teachers that do not even place the grades from tests/homework in the gradebook. As an example, if you failed one test, and then maybe you passed another test, some teacher might not place the grades there, even if you remind them. A reading and writing teacher expects you to write an essay in less than a week or even less. This is about middle school. Maybe high schools can be able to do that, but defiantly not us. A teacher even gave a WHOLE REFFERAL for a kid playing the google snake game. A detention or a warning would've been ok and reasonable, but NO! First time, referral. One of the teachers does not even let you ask questions about problems about math, when they are a MATH TEACHER! Some kids, like my friend, has parents that need to know where they are and usually are nice enough to text them (not in the middle of class) to see how they are doing in lunch and stuff. The parent can get concerned and worried if they get left on delivered/read. In the middle school you get detention if you wear the wrong color jacket. But in the elementary school, you wear whatever you want? It does not matter if elementary kids are younger. They always treat middle schoolers like they don't need anything. The elemntary schoolers are always spoiled. M.s Espinosa as the principal of the middle school was way better than Pestana. Pestana is here making silly rules. Maybe for adults it might not be silly, but at least for us, it is. I feel horrible for the kids that have to go to this school.

Posted: June 9, 2021

Love the teachers sometimes, other times don't treat students well. Bullying is a very big problem in this school and bullies are just told to say sorry. Never given any sort of punishment yet in 2nd grade I got a parent conference for arm wrestling a lunch. Not a lot of diversity racially, ethnically, or religion-wise.

Posted: June 9, 2021

Posted: February 23, 2021

My kids love this school! The teachers speak 100% in English.
Ms Bell, Ms King, Ms Manigat, Ms Herrera, Ms Cabrera all excellent teachers

Posted: February 23, 2021

Posted: May 25, 2020

If you dont speak Spanish some times you can get lost, because the kids and parents outside classroom only speak Spanish.

Posted: August 20, 2019

The assistant principal is the biggest bully of them all.

Posted: August 20, 2019

Very basic and typical Miami where American culture takes second place.

Posted: August 20, 2019

Basic teaching staff and basic lessons for Spanish culture. American culture takes second place.

Posted: August 20, 2019

Leadership is a bully clique and thats what they teach.

Posted: August 20, 2019

Assistant principal is a bully, obnoxious and ineffective.

Posted: August 20, 2019

Does not apply to my circumstances so no comment.

Posted: August 20, 2019

The largest negative number that exists is how we rate this school.

Posted: June 5, 2019

My kids love the school and the teachers. Ms Bell, 2 nd grade. Ms. Gari and Ms. Espinosa! They are very prepared, kind and awesome!

Posted: July 18, 2018

my experience is very good I have received the support and guidance that I needed and my boy are happy

Posted: July 18, 2018

Posted: July 17, 2018

muy buena .... siempre están muy atento de las inquietudes nuestras.. y de nuestros hijos

Posted: June 21, 2018

The best in Doral I like the way they support independence in the students

Posted: June 21, 2018

Posted: February 22, 2018

Muy buena, el personal diempre muy pendiente a sus niños.

Posted: February 22, 2018

Posted: August 10, 2017

my experience is very good I have received the support and guidance that I needed and my children are happy.

Posted: June 20, 2017

Great School. Great leadership team: principal Mr. NAVARRO, MS PILOTO and Ms ESPINOZA. Great teachers.

Posted: September 24, 2016

Teachers at John I Smith are overworked and underpaid, like all teachers everywhere are! Teacher here are kind, friendly and care! They try so very hard to make sure that all their students are learning and understanding the class work they are teaching. However, sometimes it isn't as easy as they would like. Especially if there are students who continue to disturb and distract the class. This means that the teacher has to continually refocus the class and try to get back to the lesson and the students that are actually learning are now not OR the students who need to help are not getting the help because of those disrupting the class. The teacher's have an extremely difficult job, one which parents do not always see or understand. The are trying their best to be as effective as they can with the guidelines that the school board gives them. In the end, John I. Smith has the top test scores from the 2015 - 2016 S.A.T.'s and the FCAT/FSA tests. John I. Smith is the top school in all of Doral from the testing scores. Obviously, the teachers Must be doing their job !

Posted: September 24, 2016

John I. Smith K -8 center is the 1st school built in Doral. The building is in excellent condition considering it is now 20 years old! They seem to keep the facilities maintained each year with planting new flowers and laying down mulch. The school district came last year and painted the outside of the school. Each classroom has been updated with a Promethean board and has at least three or more computers in it for the children to go on. Teachers take pride in their classroom and decorate it so the children have a warm inviting environment to learn. The classroom floors are waxed also during the summer, along with powerwashing the walkways outside of the garden areas. Yes, the school is old but it is still as shiny as the 1st day it opened!
Let's talk about The drop off .... it is a disaster ... because parents do not follow the rules! Not because of the lack of the school doing their job. There are several volunteers and staff helping out in the trafficking during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. There is a lane for parents to go into which allows the children to be able to get out of their car right at the walkway with the covering over it. But parents seem to allow their children to get out of the car down at the facility parking lot area, which holds up the line. OR parents physically get out of the car when they are not supposed to and give their child hugs/kisses/fixing their hair. If parents want to do this, they should parking in the parking lot and walk their child to the entrance of the school. Speaking of the parking lot, parents seem to think that is another option for pulling up and allowing their child to get out of the car in the middle of the driving lane. That is not another alternative for dropping your child off to school in the morning, They could potentially get hit by a car! The same goes for pick up at dismissal. Parents refuse to push up and keep the flow of cars moving. They do not use the crosswalk when going back to the parking lot and the do not always wait for the crossing gaurd to give the okay to cross the street. The procedures for morning and afternoon would work if the school had the full cooperation of the parents to work together and show their children how the correct way to do things and that we follow the rules. John I. Smith is truly a great school and cares for the safety of the children!

Posted: September 24, 2016

Homework is one of those dreaded things that parents hate. Unfortunately, it is necessary. Each teacher at John I Smith gives homework according to what they are teaching that day. Sometimes they give homework they have not taught to see how the children comprehend it. Homework can sometimes be overwhelming to both the child and the parents, but if you communicate with the teachers and explain your frustrations, they will work with you & your child. The teachers understand that sometimes you can't always get what the homework is asking, but they want the child to try and not give up. Teachers will also suggest other ways to help your child use their full potential. Whether it be extra reading at home or even a tutor! There isn't one teacher who will refuse to help a child to be able to understand what they are learning.

Posted: July 22, 2016

Great School. Great leadership team: principal Mr. NAVARRO, MS PILOTO and Ms ESPINOZA.
All of them, were always available for any concern. Great teachers: From 1st to 5th, Ms Rojas, Ms Bell, Ms Grande, Ms Arrocha, Ms Herrera, Ms Tbash, and Ms Max. Oh my lord, those teachers are AMAZING. MY daughter had the best school experience at J I Smith. As a parent I thank MR Navarro, Ms Piloto, Ms Espinosa and all these GREAT TEACHERS, who goes beyond expectations. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Posted: July 22, 2016

Posted: May 2, 2016

My daughter is currently attending the 4th grade here. This is the first and last year she will be at this school. Like the person below stated, this is a predominately Hispanic school. Each time I have entered the front office it is a mad house. There's about 5 woman working in the front and it takes minutes until one will acknowledge your presence. Very very unfriendly people. I fee my daughter is not challenged enough at this school and the work given is much inferior to the work she was given in the Texas schools we came from. The building is very old and outdated. The drop off and pick up is terrible. There is a overall lack of respect and community and this school, perhaps it is a cultural difference for us but I am very happy we are moving back to Texas and far away from this school.

Posted: August 6, 2015

its awesome the teachers are great and i love learning there its a wonderful learning experience

Posted: August 6, 2015

Posted: April 5, 2015

This is the first and last year of my kids attending this school. The school is predominantly Hispanic;both faculty and staff. My daughters are of color. I have had a terrible, frustrating experience this entire school year and I feel like my 4th grader is not receiving the attention she needs and is being left behind. This teacher has very poor communication, she sends notes and detention slips home every other day for silly things but never any notes for important matters such as failing math grades. It's as if she could care less if my daughter has to repeat 4th grade! Very frustrating school year and I can not wait to get my daughters out of this school for next school year. There's no equal opportunity at all. Also, it seems like my daughters are just bringing new lessons home for me to teach them! I have seriously been considering homeschooling them because if they don't understand a lesson, they don't spend more time with the kids to help them understand. They just move on to the next lesson. I'm spending hours every night teaching my kids at home what they should be learning in school. Easy pay check for these teachers.

Posted: October 19, 2014

Good school. Teachers do their best, but the children needs extra help outside of classroom. For children with learning difficulties, please call 786-302-3263 for private tutoring/management of ADHD, ADD, and other Learning Disabilities.

Posted: September 1, 2014

Academically is a very good school, teachers are very nice, experienced and my daughter has had an excellent experience since Kindergarten. However the facilities are old and dirty, the school needs improvements and maintenance. PTA is amazing! They work really hard!! The new Principal, Mr. Navarro seems to be a very organized and aware of all this problems and is trying to give his best to help. Parents are very involved and are welcome To participate and collaborate with the school.

Posted: March 22, 2014

I think that the teachers are wonderful. They want every kid to do their best. the rigor of the home-learning is a follow-up of the days instruction. I am glad that my kid gets work that relates to grade level skills and not busy work.

Posted: February 19, 2014

Mediocre education, lousy teachers and the facilities are completely run down. The school provides a traditional education which does not prepare the kids for the real world. Unfortunately, some parents seem to be thrown-off by the school's rating because it is an A school- but if you actually research the FCAT test scores they are all under 80%, many in the the mid 60 percentile. Also, there are very little resources (music, art, technology, physical education) for the kids to actually be getting something more than just a basic education and the parents have to be on top of their kids homework for them to actually learn.

Posted: January 9, 2014

Very disapointed, after seeing that Kinder garden kids are taken to play to a public park playground, kids go in and out from the public playground into the public bathrooms with no adult supervision, i will file a complaint and speak to the principal of this scchool.

Posted: October 4, 2013

The school is great and my daughter seems very happy and doing great, but some things must change. Security is very weak and school seems a but unprotected. Also, there must be a radical change in dismissal, it is total chaos!! All other schools have car loops and parents dont even have to get out if their cars. That way is safer for our kids and faster to get out if its all in order! They should assign volunteers to help with dismissal traffic. School buses tend to block the exit and nobody does anything to help or change that!

Posted: September 30, 2013

John I Smith offers amazing education in a nurturing and caring environment. Parent involvement is high in this school. They offer amazing after care programs which give the kids options for staying active after school.

Posted: September 6, 2013

Mi experiencia con la escuela no pudo haber sido mejor. Viniendo de una escuela privada, estaba preocupada al ingresar en el sistema publico. Pero JIS no ha sido mas que apoyarme, aliviar todas mis preocupaciones y ayudar a mis hijos en todas las areas. Nos estamos mudando ahora y me siento muy triste de dejar esta escuela. Las maestras son muy buenas, y la subdirectora Piloto es maravillosa. Mis hijos no se quieren ir. Es una escuela que merece mucho mas reconocimiento que el que se le da.

Posted: August 20, 2013

My experience of John I smith is excellent ,excellent teachers that that are good at teaching the students. It has a wonderful gifted program that help the kids get good grades.

Posted: August 11, 2013

John I. Smith K-8 Center is the first school in Doral and it is great with helping kids maximize their potential! :)

Posted: May 29, 2013

This school is horrible in all aspects. The teachers don't teach, do not care about the kids and are not prepared. There is no communication with the parents, very little use of technology and the after school programs and after care is a joke. The facilities are old, run down and filfthy. Quite honestly there is nothing positive or remotely positive I would say about the school.

Posted: May 15, 2013

This school is disgustingly dirty. The bathrooms reek of urine. The floors and walls are filthy. There's mold growing on the tiles of some classrooms. The walls desperately need to be painted. The paint is peeling off. Definitely does not look like a school you would find in the Doral area. There's NO discipline whatsoever. They mix the little ones with the 6th graders. There's no computers. Some of the "teachers" should definitely not be teachers and the administration is terrible. Absolutely would not recommend this school. It's a shame, because this USED to be an excellent school.

Posted: February 26, 2013

This is a great school and everyone should agree dont be complaining because it is one of the best schools in doral. It is hard to get in doral academy and ebt is a mess so you shouldnt. Complain and if your daughter gets bad grades is because they want for your child to study and prepare for sixth grade here they dont show how to subtractvin 5th grade they show you hard stuff so its a great school with a great cheerleading team,dance teams and great after care programs and if you want for the school to get better talk with the administration

Posted: February 20, 2013

We moved from Hollywood, so the situation is Hollywood Central Elementary to John I Smith. This has been one of the worst experiences we ever had. I could spend hours describing the whole ordeal and the big mess this school divers its day to day activities, but instead I will focus on the wort issue "Teachers". I don't want to generalize, but sadly our third grade daughter's teacher is somehow (and this is our point of view based on our personal experiences), not qualify to teach anything. I had to spent a lot of time with my daughter everyday to teach her what she is suppose to learn in class, and even though it is impossible to get a good grade from her teacher. She is used to get good grades from her previous school and most important we used to get a good teacher/parent communication channel over there. Here, at John I Smith, impossible. Her planner is never checked, we seldom get her homework revised by her teacher (what we get a lot is medium to bad grades from here). Trying to get a conference with her teacher, a monumental task (on top of that, her teacher does not get emails). She (teacher) has no right ask for her students excellence over such a deficient teaching

Posted: November 13, 2012

The teachers are Okay, the level of education is great, the school is safe (no violence), the people at the office are helpful and bilingual, and my kid is happy ... but the walls are dirty, the little playground looks dirty and old , and the public restroom signs have to be replaced (the one between the cafeteria and the media center) ... "women" and "men" are already plural and don't need a "S" at the end ... a big grammar mistake like this one, placed on the wall of an elementary school for every kid too see, doesn't look too good ...

Posted: October 25, 2012

I was very happy that John I Smith School was the school where my grandson could assist, because of the residence location. I might be wrong, but I see that when the school is over the small children are outside the school with very little protection. No one controls who picks up the children or if the small children walk away by theirselves. There are other topics that I will mention later. As far as education, I do see great progress on my grandson.

Posted: October 24, 2012

We have had our kids in this school for 4 years now and are very happy with the level of education, teachers and students. They also have great Spanish, Art and Music Teachers. We have been 'lucky' every year to get excellent teachers. This year was the first time we were very disappointed with one of the classes/teachers. Fortunately this school has a principal and AP who will listen and try to find a solution to any problem you present and our situation has now been resolved. I would recommend this school.

Posted: August 19, 2012

The education is "good", but no space in bilingual program, only for few, then the infrastructure is poor, dirty walls, landscaping need to be attend, class rooms walls dirty, bad lights in bathrooms, the park for the little ones is old!.. lunch for after care program is just a juice and a bag of chips?..please it has to be better...I'm sick that I pay school board taxes, and the school is not in the conditions..We need to be sure that our kids are in a good enviroment with good education...

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Doral Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Doral	FL	1.1 mi
2	Weston	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Weston	FL	19 mi
3	No neighborhood name	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Homestead	FL	26.2 mi

Base	Distance
US Southern Command	1.6 mi.
Coast Guard Opa Locka	8.2 mi.
Miami Coast Guard	14 mi.
Homestead Air Base	23 mi.

John I. Smith K-8 Center

Doral, FL 33178

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John I. Smith K-8 Center

Doral, FL 33178

School Ratings

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