School Admissions Reality Tracker.

Application windows, decision timing, and waitlist context for the schools families ask about most often. Updated quarterly.

Why this exists.

Families moving to Pinecrest from out of state often discover, well into their search, that the application cycles for the area's private schools do not align with the home-purchase timeline. A family deciding in May for an August move may find their preferred schools' application windows already closed.

This page consolidates the basic admissions calendar for the schools serving Pinecrest. It is reference information, not application guidance. Application windows, decision timing, tuition figures, and waitlist availability change. Verify all information directly with each school's admissions office before making decisions.

The major college-preparatory schools.

Palmer Trinity School

Private Independent · IB World School  ·  Grades 6–12  ·  ~780–800 enrolled
Located in Palmetto Bay
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Early Decision November 1 · Regular January 15
DECISIONS RELEASED
February – March
TUITION (2026–27)
~$48,000
WAITLIST
Verify current availability with admissions

Wooded campus on 55 acres. IB World School offering the full International Baccalaureate program alongside Advanced Placement.

Gulliver Preparatory School

Private Independent · IB MYP  ·  Grades PreK–12  ·  ~2,200 enrolled
Four campuses, including Marian C. Krutulis PK-8 on Red Road and Upper School at 6575 N. Kendall Drive
APPLICATION DEADLINES
January 16
DECISIONS RELEASED
February – March
TUITION (2026–27)
~$53,000
WAITLIST
Verify current availability with admissions

The largest of the major independent schools serving Pinecrest by enrollment. IB Middle Years Programme.

Ransom Everglades School

Private Independent  ·  Grades 6–12  ·  ~1,100–1,200 enrolled
Founded 1903 · Two campuses in Coconut Grove
APPLICATION DEADLINES
January 9
DECISIONS RELEASED
February – March
TUITION (2026–27)
mid-$50,000s
WAITLIST
Verify current availability with admissions

Pathways and Bowden Fellowships programs for upper school students.

Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart

Private Catholic · Girls  ·  Grades Montessori–12  ·  ~850 enrolled
Bayfront campus in Coconut Grove
APPLICATION DEADLINES
January 7
DECISIONS RELEASED
February – March
TUITION (2026–27)
~$49,000
WAITLIST
Verify current availability with admissions

Member of the international Sacred Heart Network: 25 schools across the U.S. and Canada, with 160 affiliated schools internationally.

Additional options.

Westminster Christian School

Private Christian  ·  Grades PreK–12 · ~1,280 enrolled
Located in Palmetto Bay

Faith-based college preparatory with an admissions process that includes a pastor questionnaire for families. Tuition runs notably lower than the major independents. Verify deadlines and current enrollment directly with the school.

St. Louis Covenant School

Private Catholic  ·  Grades PreK–8
Located in Pinecrest

Catholic parochial school located within the village. Verify deadlines and current enrollment directly with the school.

Alexander Montessori School

Private Montessori  ·  Grades PreK–8
Multiple campuses including Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and Coral Gables

Montessori pedagogy for families specifically seeking that educational approach. Verify deadlines and current enrollment directly with the school.

The public schools serving Pinecrest.

Pinecrest Elementary School

Public  ·  Grades K–5  ·  ~750 enrolled  ·  State-rated A
ZONED ENROLLMENT
Open year-round
TUITION
Free for zoned families

Cambridge International curriculum alongside Florida standards. The school's zoning boundary drives a meaningful price premium for North Pinecrest properties zoned for it.

Note: Pinecrest Elementary does not currently operate a magnet program. The Cambridge curriculum is part of the standard educational program for zoned students.

Palmetto Senior High School

Public  ·  Grades 9–12  ·  ~2,672 enrolled  ·  State-rated A
ZONED ENROLLMENT
Open year-round
TUITION
Free
MAGNET PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
October 1 – January 15
MAGNET DECISIONS RELEASED
Mid-March

Multiple magnet programs: International Baccalaureate (IB), AVID, Forensic Sciences, Capstone, iPrep, and Cambridge. Notable alumni include Jeff Bezos and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Other zoned public schools serving Pinecrest

Palmetto Elementary, Howard Drive Elementary, Palmetto Middle. All state-rated and zoned according to address. Confirm specific zoning with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools boundary lookup tool.

THE ADMISSIONS YEAR

The shape of a typical cycle.

Most of the area's private schools and the Miami-Dade public magnet program follow a similar annual rhythm. Use this as a planning reference, and verify specific dates with each school.

SEP – OCT
Open Houses
Tour campuses · attend information sessions · meet admissions teams · request application materials.
OCT – MID-JAN
Application Period
Submit applications · complete SSAT/ISEE testing · interviews · student visit days · teacher recommendations. The Miami-Dade public magnet application window closes January 15.
FEB – MID-MAR
Decisions Released
Acceptance, denial, or waitlist letters from private schools. Miami-Dade magnet placements released mid-March. Families typically have two to three weeks to confirm enrollment with deposit.
APR – AUG
Waitlist & Late
Waitlist movement · spot openings from withdrawals · late applications considered case-by-case with limited capacity.
Information presented is for reference only and is sourced from publicly-available school websites and admissions communications. Application windows, decision timing, tuition figures, and waitlist conditions change. Verify all information directly with each school's admissions office before making decisions. Blue Mar Real Estate Group is not affiliated with any school listed and does not provide admissions advice or advocacy. Equal Housing Opportunity.