Hammocks Middle School Pre-Law Magnet

Hammocks Middle School, built in 1984 is located on 15.01 acres, at 9889 Hammocks Boulevard, in the western most urban community of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The school campus borders a local fire station and Hammocks Community Park. This 29 year-old school has been retro-fitted to provide internet and intranet access to 100 percent of the classrooms. Construction was completed in 2002 on a new two-story classroom building which predominantly houses the sixth grade students, providing an easier transition into middle school from elementary school. The school is home to a magnet program specializing in legal studies.

Suburban family neighborhood

Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Electives, Special Education, Student Services

Common Core Florida Standards

Full service middle school

The school offers nine fully equipped computer labs

• Hammocks Middle School Pre-Law Magnet was awarded the 2014 Five Star Award for the second year in a row.
• In 2013, the school was name a Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction
• School Volunteer, Mr. George Fernandez, was selected by the District as the Miami-Dade County School Volunteer of the Year.
• The school’s principal was the 2014 Principal of the Year nominee for the feeder pattern.
• In January 2014, the school was honored by the School Board, the Superintendent, and the University of Miami for their outstanding Bike Safety Program.
• The school’s Garden Club, under the direction of Ms. Alexis Roque, won the Fairchild Challenge for Middle School Garden Grant.
• During the District 4 Junior Thespian Festival, the school’s Thespians received Superior Ratings in acting, scene writing, and pantomime. They also went on to receive a Critic’s Choice Award in pantomime.

Art Club, Band Club, Ceramics Club, Chess Club, Dance Teams, National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, Thespians, Future Educators of America

Ample parking available for staff and guests

There are no requirements for neighborhood students.  Magnet applicants do have the following requirements:
•   Apply between October 1 and January 15th for the following school year using the online application found on www.MiamiMagnets.org
•   Applicants must have a 2.0 GPA to apply, but once accepted GPA requirements increase to a 2.5
•   Attendance and behavior requirements are high and will be explained on the magnet contract once the student is accepted into the program

School’s Vision
The Hammocks Middle School community will develop students into confident, well balanced and independent young people who will strive toward high academic standards.
School’s Mission
Through a cross curricular, interdisciplinary approach, students will be given the necessary tools and nurturing so they may produce individualized growth and ultimately reach their highest potential.

School’s Philosophy
The vision of the Hammocks Academy of Legal Studies (HALS) Pre-Law Magnet program is to engage students in the knowledge of civic training and to integrate the themes of justice, ethics, diplomacy, and the principles of democracy into the core curriculum. Our curriculum, magnet electives, and general electives embody the themes of the program. The themes are communication, conflict resolution, ethics, reasoning, and the application of research and procedure skills. The thematic principles help our students acquire interpersonal skills, better work habits, and help shape their values and morals. Students are given a full range of opportunities to develop these principles and skills throughout their classes and in mandatory community service as defined within the guidelines of the magnet program. The long term goal is that the combination of ideals, principles and skills will carry over into their high school years and into adulthood.

School opened in 1984 and was the largest middle school in the state housing 2500 students.

Promoting Truth, Justice, and the American Way, While Producing America’s Future Leaders