Miami Lakes Educational Center

Miami Lakes Educational Center Academics

Introducing a unique approach to vocational education. Or is it a high school? Actually, it’s both. Enter Miami Lake Educational Center, which is not your usual high school nor your typical technical school. High school students can attend their regular classes as well as specific vocational training courses. At the end of their four years, they can leave with both their high school diploma and a vocational certificate in the field of their choice. In the same building as these high school students are adults of all ages furthering their education with vocational or technical training courses. Is it a good school? Well, the Florida Department of Education, which grades each school in Florida, gave this school a grade of ‘A’.

Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC) provides adults with 18 different programs for vocational or technical courses. The programs include automotive repair, appliance repair, HVAC repair, Cisco Networking, Commercial Driver’s Licenses, Cosmetology, Electronics technology, healthcare programs such as nursing, and heavy duty truck and bus mechanics. MLEC even has a specific automotive repair program for Toyota vehicles. It also provides different paths in which adults can earn their G.E.D. For those looking to learn English or better their English skills, they do offer courses for both English as a second language or even vocational English. They do not offer any online courses. Please note that if you do not have an associates or another degree you will be required to take a math, language and reading exam. Classes are scheduled for both daytime and evening to provide flexibility and work around your schedule.

Miami Lakes Educational Center is a fully accredited school by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.

High school students have the ability to participate in the same vocational and technical classes as the adult programs, but it does offer even more programs for the students to choose from including journalism, forensic science, engineering, art, music and entertainment technology, culinary arts and more. However, these are more designed to provide experience in the various fields and give a head start as the students continue their education after high school.

Miami Lakes Educational Center Admissions

There are a few requirements for admission into MLEC adult program: you must be out of high school and 16 years of age or older. Most of the programs are open admissions, but some have limited seating available and a few require interviewing with the instructor prior to enrollment.

MLEC is on a trimester schedule with beginning in January, April and August. Please contact the school for information regarding deadlines for registration. The majority of the programs can begin during any of the trimesters.

Miami Lakes Educational Center Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance

The cost of courses is dependent upon how many credit hours per trimester the course entails. The total fee is a flat-fee based on the total number of hours and is adjusted accordingly for courses that do not run the entire 15-week trimester. Each trimester they provide a current schedule which lists the cost for each course. Please remember these will not include books.

Financial Aid

Miami Lakes Educational Center does offer a wide array of financial aid options and Veteran benefits. They do provide information on how to apply for financial aid as well as providing links to certain scholarship websites. MLEC offers assistance in filling out the financial aid forms, where to go to search for more information and help with scholarships.

Miami Lakes Educational Center Students

Since MLEC does not have dormitories, the students (both young and old) commute to campus. High school students do have the benefit of school bus transportation available to them. However, students enrolled in the adult programs cannot use these buses. Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Transit Agency does provide transportation to MLEC on various routes. Please contact them directly for more information.

There is a bookstore available on campus that allows students to purchase books (cash only) required for the courses that MLEC offers. They also have a Career Assessment Center available to those that would like help which program options to pursue. MLEC has an office that provides vocational and job counseling services to help with financial aid processes, testing, and guidance counseling. They even have job placement services for all currently enrolled students and previous students with certification. Child care is offered for daytime courses for employees and students alike.

To protect students and faculty, all students must wear an ID badge at all times on campus. Also, they do not have a health facility on site, nor do they offer health benefits to their students. Any incident that may occur will be the responsibility of the student.

For full time students, a break in classes can only mean lunch. MLEC has two different lunch rooms. One that provides students with standard lunch room options including pizza from local pizzerias and the other lunch room is run by the Culinary Arts courses and provides a more gourmet menu for both high school and adult students. Outside dining is also available for those nice days in Miami.

High school students get to take advantage of the many student clubs and organizations including but not limited to Hispanic Heritage, Cheerleading, Students Against Drunk Driving, Book Lovers, Bible Club, African History Society, Dance, Theater, Business, Marketing, National Honor Society, Women of Tomorrow, and much, much more. And it is a high school, so you can expect school dances such as Homecoming and Prom.

Miami Lakes Educational Center Athletics

The MLEC mascot is the Jaguar. You can find the Jaguar’s proud footprints on their sites, calendar and newsletters. The high school program does offer and promote their extracurricular activities including various sports such as basketball. Their activities calendar provides dates for their pep rallies and games.

General Characteristics

Highest offering	At least 2, but less than 4 academic yrs
Calendar System	Other academic year
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification