Tropical Elementary strives to involve parents and community members to participate in the preparation of all students to be independent and self-sufficient individuals who will be able to sustain themselves as contributing adults in their community and to provide opportunities for students in both general and special edutation to work together in their quest to achieve personal goals.
History
In 1955, Dade County Public Schools established a new school on the site of a dairy farm. Starting with twelve wooden portables, "We were soon moving in November, 1956 into a permanent building," reports Mr. Hudson, Tropical's first principal. In 1957, an additional wing was added and Tropical became, in addition to the regular school, an Exceptional Education Center. The Exceptional Student Education program was designed to become a "demonstration site" with a focus on teacher training.
The 1970's brought about a demographic change in the community, as many hispanics moved out of the "inner city" into the suburbs. This made a dramatic change at Tropical. A school reflects the community it serves. Many new classes were added, such as, ESOL and Spanish for Spanish speaking students, which reflected the change in the school population.
During the 1980's changes occurred in the Exceptional Student Education Program with added classes for the profoundly mentally handicapped and pre-school children with a variety of disabilities.
The beginning of a new millenium heralded Tropical's forty-fifth year as a school. The school has grown and changed since its inception. In 2000, Tropical opened its new Media Center, Exceptional Education suites, Music and Art suites, and expanded and rennovated its main office. Tropical continues to be a vital, burgeoning organization, offering a vast array of programs for the great community it serves.