While I have not had a child attend Gulliver Academy, both of my children have looked at the school. Without thought, Gulliver is known for its athletics. They typically have very strong teams and there is great importance put on athletics. Gulliver begins in Pre-kindergarten-3 and goes through high school, and has 4 different campuses – 2 in Pinecrest, 1 in Coral Gables and 1 just outside South Miami. This Preschool – 12th grade concept is something rare in Miami and serves well for many families that want one school. As my daughter is deep in the 5th grade process of studying for SSATs and all the other tests she will be taking for admittance into different schools, I can’t help but think how nice it would be for her to already be in the school she would continue in.
As far as academics, Gulliver has always seemed to me to be the school that can accommodate all different types of students. There is an International Baccalaureate program, as well as Advanced Placement classes offered for those that can handle a more stringent learning program, but they also have their Montgomery Drive Campus that offers smaller classes for children needing a little more attention to reach their potential. Children who attend this program attend the Academy Campus in the afternoon for lunch, electives and extra-curricular activities. Students can take different level classes depending on their strengths and weaknesses and teachers are there every day after school to meet with them. Gulliver also offers a great fine arts program and is quite committed to the arts.
Admission into Gulliver has changed in the past years to a rolling admission process. Students applying to Gulliver take the SSAT and have an interview. As I understand, once offered a spot at Gulliver you have 10 days to respond. This becomes tricky if it is not your first choice. As many other schools give notification in early March, you would have to either be committed to Gulliver or wait until you have heard from any other schools that are your top choices. Gulliver has always been very open to families moving into the area and has seemed to be more open to accommodating families on shorter notice than many other schools.