Department of Education, this fourth book in the Innovations in Education series identifies six school districts whose successful magnet programs offer a range of contexts, experiences, and perspectives. For similar information on other topics, visit the full CalEdFacts. Magnet Programs and Schools Listserv Join the Magnet Programs and Schools listserv to receive information, resources, and other relevant materials.
Department of Education Magnet Schools Assistance. California Department of Education. Home Specialized Programs Educational Options Magnet Programs and Schools Magnet Programs and Schools A magnet program is a program in a public school that usually focuses on a special area of study, such as science, the performing arts, or career education.
Some of those reasons are: to offer unique educational choices to students; to create a more balanced student population in a district; to provide specialized instruction at one or more schools. For more information about magnet programs and schools in your area, contact your local school district. The Magnet Programs and Schools - CalEdFacts page provides more detailed information about magnet programs and schools.
The links and information below were developed for educators and others who are directly involved with magnet programs and schools. Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 13, Magnet schools first came into being in the late s and early s as a tool to further academic desegregation in large urban school districts.
Magnets were intended to attract students from across different school zones. To accomplish this, magnet schools had to do two things. First, they had to open their enrollment to students outside their traditional school zones. Second, they had to provide an environment or experience that would attract students and families from other school zones.
By encouraging enrollment rather than forcing enrollment, the hope was that families would voluntarily desegregate their children in lieu of being forcibly desegregated through busing. This video describes how magnet schools came into existence as well as how magnet schools benefit students. Many magnet schools still help increase diversity within the public school system. But over the last 20 years, some magnet schools have taken on a more competitive role in education in that they can only admit percent of the students that apply to their school.
The current role of magnet schools, therefore, is to promote academic opportunity and excellence beyond that which is offered at their regular public school counterparts.
Approximately one-third of all magnet schools use academic performance as selection criteria to decide who will be invited to enroll for that year. As discussed above, magnets offer special curricula, such as STEM, performing arts programs, or special instructional approaches, such as academic achievement through the application of Gardner's learning styles or the Montessori style of education.
Because of these unique qualities, enrollment in magnet schools has steadily increased over the years. Additionally, the number of magnet schools has increased rapidly since federal court rulings accepted magnet programs as a method of desegregation in the mids. Between and , the number of individual schools offering magnet programs nearly doubled and the number of students enrolling in these programs almost tripled.
By the school year, more than 1. In the school year, 1, magnet schools operated in 17 of the 33 states that reported such information to the federal government. The states with the most magnet schools are Michigan , Florida , California and Texas Magnet schools are mainly an urban phenomenon. According to the U. Whether they are located in urban or rural areas, however, there are magnet schools at the elementary school, middle school, and high school levels.
Some magnet schools will occasionally combine grades in certain classes. While magnet schools are more racially balanced than their traditional counterparts, other imbalances may develop. Magnet schools are less likely to have the same socioeconomic status SES mix that the regular public schools have. For instance, fewer magnet school students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs.
These findings apply to students regardless of their race. Evidence from magnet schools in St. Louis suggests that low SES students in regular schools are more likely to complete high school than their counterparts in non-magnet schools. See the Magnet Schools of America Strategic Roadmap , which discusses magnet school opportunities at local, state and federal levels. It is the soft skills, however, of teamwork, acceptance, innovation and engagement that make magnet schools the vibrant environment it is for developing positive citizen children prepared for future careers and successful community engagement.
This real-life preparation has students not only interacting with peers from all backgrounds, but with hands-on experience working with businesses, cultural institutions, universities and community organizations.
Excellence in academic enrichment is the key to successful college admission as well as to career accomplishments. Magnet schools, however, also enrich students in ways that create a positive effect on the community at large. Through a more harmonious and healthy interaction to various cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, to developing a deeper understanding of community that comes from hands-on interaction with corporations, non-profits, cultural and academic institutions, students are exposed to a microcosm of the world at large, learning skills of interaction, team building and cooperation.
This positive integration imparts life skills that reach well beyond the classroom. Students of every learning level end up using these experiences in their future pursuits of higher learning and in their work life. Magnet schools close the achievement gap, improve racial harmony and empower all students to reach their individual potential. Magnet Schools are founded on the five pillars of diversity, innovative curriculum and professional development, academic excellence, leadership and family and community partnerships.
Along with that change was the movement to desegregate school systems and offer equal opportunities and access to superior education to students of every socio-economic level.
But, as Dr. It even offered adult classes in the evenings. In fact the school rarely closed its doors. Some students came for a full-day program; others came for part-time; still others came after school. Waldrip, whose full article is linked here with many more specifics acknowledges that while magnet schools are still used to improve diversity and reduce segregation, they have rapidly become superior options within the public sector for all students, even in districts of primarily one race.
Today , these schools have emerged as educational beacons in communities, incorporating themed curricula, hands-on, experiential learning, a diverse tapestry of students and academic requirements that often exceed those of the school district or state. Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish.
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