What Makes RE Special and How It Prepares Students for College and Life

For over a century, Ransom Everglades has stood out as a leading college‑preparatory day school for grades 6–12 in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. Set on gorgeous grounds along Biscayne Bay, it combines intellectual ambition, strong community values, and an emphasis on character and civic purpose. Combining a spirit of inquiry with responsibility, the school aims to produce graduates “who believe they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it.”

RE is ideal for students who thrive when challenge comes with collaboration, where academics are serious but the culture remains personal, and where global outlook meets local service.

Campus & Community

The RE experience begins with place: two campuses just minutes apart between South Bayshore (Middle School, grades 6–8) and Main Highway on the bay (Upper School, grades 9–12). The Upper School campus offers sweeping views of the water, modern STEM and arts facilities, water‑sports access, and experiential learning spaces amid palm‑shaded paths and mangroves.

The RE community is one where you know everyone: your classmates, your teachers, your staff. With an impressive student–teacher ratio and small class sizes, the mix of access and ambition is strong. About 64 % of the student body identifies as multicultural, bringing a lively mix of backgrounds, perspectives and global connections.

‍Key community features:

• Enrollment ~1,246 students (grades 6–12)
• Student–teacher ratio approximately 8 : 1
• Average class size about 14 students
• Two‑campus model: Middle School & Upper School
• Multicultural student body with broad representation

These facts shape a school where the “day school” structure doesn’t feel casual—it feels immersive, anchored and serious.

Academics & Curriculum

At the heart of RE’s academic curriculum is a blend of tradition and innovation. In both Middle and Upper School, students engage in rigorous coursework anchored in inquiry, while being guided to ask hard questions, collaborate across disciplines and connect classroom learning with the world outside.

In the Upper School, the curriculum includes various “signature programs” for each grade level, including RE, humanities, and service leadership. With electives in the arts, more than 60 “interest/affinity groups,” and advanced work in STEM, humanities, languages and more, RE students can learn almost anything. Furthermore, their “Pathways” program is a recent highlight where students pick a domain of interest for in‑depth study, original research and leadership through to graduation. Advanced Placement and honors‑level courses are a staple, and standardized test outcomes reflect that: RE students report average SAT scores around 1400 and ACT around 31.

What stands out is the school’s emphasis on breadth + depth: students aren’t simply racing through APs; they are encouraged to explore, engage, and contribute. The coastal setting also contributes unique opportunities for marine science, environmental stewardship, and outdoor labs.

In short, if you want college‑prep rigor with modern relevance, RE offers a dynamic mix of challenge, support and connection.

Extracurriculars & Service

At Ransom Everglades, student life reaches far beyond required coursework—extracurriculars and service are woven into the fabric of the day. There are dozens of clubs and activities through which students make a difference on and off campus. Clubs meet before, during, and after school and include academic teams, honor societies, government, arts, and service‑oriented groups.  

Service is not a side note; it’s a signature feature. RE’s “Service Leadership” program in the 8th grade, for example, engages students in experiential learning with community‑partners like Great Heights Academy and includes cultural immersion trips with mission‑aligned outreach.   The school also tracks service engagement systematically, with upper‑school students using software tools to log service hours and identify opportunities.  

For athletics and arts, RE boasts more than 55 courses in the performing and visual arts and over 60 co‑curricular organizations for the Upper School alone. The culture is broad: whether a student’s passion lies in sailing Biscayne Bay, performing in a musical, debating global policy, or leading a community outreach project, RE supports it.

In short: RE invites students to engage widely—academics, arts, athletics, service—in meaningful ways. The goal is not simply participation, but leadership, reflection, and contribution.

Admissions & Fit

Admission to RE is competitive. Families need to consider both fit and readiness. Key elements of the process include:

• Online application (grades 6 and 9 are major entry points)
• Transcripts, teacher recommendations, ISEE/SSAT or equivalent test scores
• Interview (often required)
• Timelines: Application deadlines are typically in early January.

What RE is looking for: intellectual curiosity, personal integrity, collaborative readiness and a willingness to engage. The day‑school model means students must be self‑motivated but also community‑oriented. Parents often note that the best‑fit students at RE are those who are academically strong and eager to contribute to class, to campus, to society.

Tuition & Financial Aid (2025–26)

Tuition at Ransom Everglades is consistent with its high‑end college‑prep peers, but the school also emphasizes access and support:

• Upper School tuition: ~$54,820 for the highest grade level (2025–26 estimate)
• Around 17% of students receive financial aid, with average awards in the ~$39,900 range
• The school provides need‑based support and is transparent about cost and access

Parents at RE consistently reference how the school aims to match student potential with opportunity—and how aid is real, not just aspirational.

Key Takeaways for Parents & Students

• Academic rigor & modern relevance: RE prepares students for top colleges but also for global citizenship, inquiry and leadership.
• Day‑school, elevated community: You don’t need to board to get full immersion. RE’s large, vibrant, connected day community offers depth, not distance.
• Access & diversity: With a highly multicultural student body, service identity and financial aid, RE is serious about inclusive excellence.
• Whole‑student growth: Whether it’s sailing on Biscayne Bay, writing a research paper, performing on stage or leading a service project, RE emphasizes experience and meaning.
• Consider fit carefully: If your student seeks independence, challenge and a college‑prep environment in a coastal, dynamic setting, RE could be an excellent match. If your student prefers a small class, mellow pace or limited extracurricular load, you may want to compare fit elsewhere.

Want to Explore Further?

At AtomicMind, we help families assess whether schools like Ransom Everglades align with their student’s profile and aspirations. From assembling a balanced school list to crafting strong applications, prepping interviews and clarifying fit, our team provides strategy, perspective and support. Ready to explore how RE could fit your student’s next chapter? Contact us to begin the conversation.

About the Author: Dylan is a Head Advisor at AtomicMind based in Southern California. He graduated from Stanford University with a major in International Relations and a minor in French. His passion for learning and education shaped his current endeavor of helping students design their own unique path to college, which he does in addition to his hobbies of hiking, traveling, and reading.