North Miami Senior High, about four miles from Aventura, is one of seven Miami-Dade County Public Schools that earned Gold International School Awards from the world chess governing body, making the district the only one in the United States to claim the top honor.
The Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) announced the awards on Tuesday, Aug. 18, recognizing schools that integrate chess into classroom instruction, academic resources and community outreach. Of the 11 Gold awards handed out worldwide, seven went to Miami-Dade schools. The remaining four went to schools in Shanghai, A Coruña (Spain) and the United Arab Emirates.
The district, led by Superintendent Jose Dotres, applied for the first time. Every school that submitted an application earned Gold, the highest tier above Silver and Bronze. A 100% success rate.
The seven winners are:
- Citrus Grove K-8 Center
- Hialeah Gardens Middle School
- Howard D. McMillan Middle School
- Irving and Beatrice Peskoe K-8 Center
- North Miami Senior High School
- Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary School
- Ruben Dario Middle School
FIDE evaluates applicants across 11 criteria, including student involvement, teaching innovation, educator qualifications, chess programming and social impact. The award program, established in 2024, has recognized 87 schools from 27 countries since its inception.
The recognition follows years of district investment in chess. Miami-Dade launched its Chess2Think initiative during the 2021-2022 school year to give students virtual access to chess across all schools, tying the game to core subjects and critical thinking skills.
At an October 2025 signing ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich called chess "a proven and powerful tool" for education. The organization declared 2026 the Year of Chess in Education alongside the International School Chess Federation.
North Miami Senior High is the only high school among the seven honorees. The Gold designation is valid for three years, meaning the school's chess program carries international validation through 2028 for students in the Aventura-area feeder pattern.
The current FIDE School Award application cycle is open through Sept. 30, with awards announced in December.
