In 1959, Vineland’s doors opened with 28 classrooms surrounded by brush, farms, fruit trees, towering pines, a few homes and the Suniland Shopping Center. In 2009, Vineland celebrated its 50th year of excellence, along with the first year of a transition from traditional elementary school to K-8 configuration. An “A” school for the 12th consecutive year, Vineland is part of the Miami Palmetto Senior High School feeder pattern, which is made up of many of the highest performing schools in the district. Located on 8.87 acres in a middle class, residential area in southern Miami-Dade County, there are 45 classrooms, including an upper academy building equipped with 20 interactive Promethean boards, as well as a music, art, and administration suite.
Vineland is home to approximately 905 students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, and represents a diverse population with 62% Hispanic, 24% White non-Hispanic, nine percent Black, and five percent Other. Students in kindergarten through second grade have the opportunity to participate in and Extended Foreign Language (EFL) program in Spanish which provides one full hour of instruction in the targeted foreign language including exposure to cultural enrichment through the humanities. Beginning in first grade, students who meet state and district criteria are eligible for placement in the school’s full-time gifted program. In addition to the weekly hour of music instruction, students in grades 3-5 are eligible to participate in Vineland’s “Striking Strings” (elementary orchestra) program during the regular school day once per week.
Besides their core curriculum, Upper Academy students have the opportunity to enroll in an array of elective courses, including drama, television production, VEX robotics, technology, green studies, journalism, orchestra, Spanish, art appreciation, and physical education. Additionally, advanced students are eligible to participate in high school credit-bearing honors courses such as Honors Algebra 1, Honors Physical Science, and Honors Spanish 1 or 2. A faculty committed to professional growth, 45% of Vineland’s instructional staff hold an advanced degree, and 22% are National Board Certified.
Strong parental involvement has long been a trademark of Vineland which has been recognized with the prestigious Gold Award for the 29th consecutive year based on the number of volunteer hours provided.