Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

What are magnet schools?

Magnet School

L.E. Baskow

Students work on a design project in the Rancho High School Academy of Aviation magnet program Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.

Magnets are themed programs that focus on specific curriculums within existing public schools — like schools within schools. Magnet students take specialized courses in a particular discipline or field, then attend general education classes with students from the entire student body of the school,

Magnet programs emerged in the 1960s to protest racially segregated schools. The street academies, as they were called, emphasized reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as African-American history, civil rights and community involvement. Today, magnets aim to improve student achievement, promote diversity and make students aware of career opportunities.

Who can apply?

Any student in grades kindergarten through nine living in the Clark County School District boundaries. Those applying to Las Vegas Academy of the Arts must be in at least 10th grade.

What are the admission requirements?

For elementary and middle school students, there are no specific requirements to attend a magnet school. Parents must submit an application online or at the school by the application deadline. If there are more applications than seats available, a computerized random lottery is used to select students.

Most high school magnets have some admission criteria. Students interested in applying should talk with their counselors or contact the magnet school to determine whether there are entrance criteria. Students also must submit an application online or at the school by the deadline. If there are more qualified applicants than seats available, a computerized random lottery is used.

How much is tuition at a magnet?

There are no tuition, application or entrance fees for magnets.

Are special education and English Language Learner students eligible to attend magnet schools? Can home school, private school or charter school students apply?

Yes.

Can magnet students participate in co-curricular activities?

Sometimes. Parents and students must check with the student’s zoned school in regard to eligibility. In school, magnet students aren’t kept separate from the general school population. All students also share a lunch period.

Can I apply to multiple magnets?

Students can apply to a maximum of three schools at each applicable grade level (elementary, middle and high school). The most seats will be available for first, sixth and ninth grades. Students can enter a magnet program at any grade level, but availability depends on how many students leave the program.

Are siblings kept together?

District officials try to avoid separating siblings but make no guarantee that family members will be admitted to the same school. The only exception made is for multiples. If one twin is accepted to a magnet, the other, if qualified, automatically will be offered a seat at the same school.

What about CTAs?

Career and technical academies are similar to magnets in terms of offering specialized courses of study, but unlike magnets, each comprises a full school. They have a similar application process as magnets. There are seven career and technical academies in Clark County offering courses in dozens of subjects.



How do they get to school?

The Clark County School District plans to add seven magnet programs in fall and another four in 2016. The additions mean almost 9,200 students will have access to the schools within schools.

But the expansion comes at a price: The district says it no longer wants to bus students to magnets far from their homes.

Many parents are angry, but district officials say the change is necessary to save money.

The change

Under the current system, if a student from Henderson attends a magnet school in North Las Vegas, the school district buses the student there.

But that can mean long commutes and big bills to cover gas and employee time.

So officials propose splitting the valley into zones starting in fall. Each magnet school would have its own zone, and any student living in that zone could be bused to school. That’s how busing works for career and technical academies.

A student can attend a magnet school outside of his or her zone, but the student would have to find a different means of transportation.

What about children already in magnets?

Current students would continue to be bused until they graduate, said Jhone Ebert, the district’s chief innovation officer.

How much money would the district save?

$9 million a year. The district currently spends $43 million a year on transportation.

When will the issue be decided?

It’s unclear, but School Board trustees will have to address the issue before the start of the next school year.

Are there alternatives?

District officials are considering two possible alternatives:

■ Collaborate with the Regional Transportation Commission to bus students to any magnet using existing bus routes.

■ Gradually introduce the changes over a period of several years.



By the numbers

Number of students in all schools in the Clark County School District: 319,000

In 2014, 16,679 students applied for 5,724 available magnet seats.

By 2017, approximately 9,170 students will participate in magnet school programs.

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