Magnet Programs and Schools
The District magnet schools are schools of choice that offer unique educational opportunities and experiences that cannot be found in the District's traditionally configured neighborhood schools. Students have access to college preparatory courses and specialized thematic curricula that investigate and explore today's career choices.
The District shall provide magnet school programs for prekindergarten–grade 12. Magnet Montessori programs shall be offered for prekindergarten–grade 8. In grades 4–5, the schools shall be known as Vanguards; in grades 6–8, the schools shall be known as Academies; and in grades 9–12, the schools shall be known as magnet schools.
Selection Process
Admission to magnet school programs shall be based on the following process. All students must complete the formal application process and meet the criteria listed below to qualify for admission:
Norm-referenced test percentile or criterion-referenced test converted for reading and mathematics;
Grade point average; and
Assessment keyed to a particular school (for example, essay, interview, or audition).
Seats shall be awarded to District students based on the following formula:
Thirty percent of the seats awarded District-wide by rank ordering applicants based on overall criteria score. These students shall be chosen solely on the basis of merit without consideration of feeder pattern or sibling status.
Seventy percent of the seats awarded within the comprehensive high school feeder patterns (adjusted proportionally for student population) by rank ordering applicants based on overall criteria score, subject to sibling rule or preference.
Sibling preference, as defined below, shall be applied to the Vanguard programs for grades 4–5, and grades 6–8 for Academies.
The sibling rules, as defined below, shall be applied to the prekindergarten–grade 8 Montessori programs.
Sibling rule and sibling preference shall only be applied to an applicant who meets the criteria with a sibling who attends the same Vanguard, magnet Montessori, or Academy program and who will continue to attend that school the next year. Siblings are defined as brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, or step-sister, living in the same household.
Sibling preference: In recognition of variation in the performance of an individual student on any evaluation, and in recognition of variation between graders on subjective measures such as auditions, essays, and grades, siblings' criteria scores shall be increased by 5 points prior to rank ordering by feeder pattern.
Sibling rule: In recognition of the noncompetitive nature of Montessori education, its emphasis on the family, and the intent and success of the Montessori method for students of all abilities, siblings shall be automatically placed on a space-availability basis prior to rank ordering by feeder pattern.
Neither siblings nor twins applying together for the first time shall receive sibling preferential treatment under either the sibling preference or the sibling rule.
For each magnet program, all qualified in-District students shall be served before any out-of-District student may gain admission into that magnet program. Proof of residence shall be submitted each year.
A student who does not meet acceptable criteria for academic performance or conduct shall be subject to dismissal from the magnet program. [See EHBJ(REGULATION)]
The Superintendent of Schools or designee shall notify all students of their first-choice status by March 1.
The Superintendent of Schools or designee shall establish rules and procedures necessary to implement and administer the selection process. An annual report shall be submitted to the Board regarding compliance with the selection process.
Adoption or Last Amended Date
This policy was last adopted or amended on September 28, 2017.