Magnet schools: a great choice for your student

With more than 150,000 students and nearly 200 schools, the Wake County Public School System works hard everyday to meet families where they are and provide multiple options for varying schedules, interests and learning styles.

Magnet schools, public school choices with unique and attractive educational programs, were introduced for two central reasons. First, magnet schools draw from neighborhoods throughout the county and help create and sustain socioeconomic diversity. Second, the thoughtfully chosen themes provide students with a path to best explore their passions and talents, offering programs like the arts, language immersion, design thinking, or aspects of STEM.

"Magnet schools are named thus because magnets attract," said Tamani Powell, WCPSS’s director of marketing. "We want to attract families to the magnet schools in Wake County to create a diverse student population. The way we do that is by offering a unique theme or way of teaching. Students still have to learn how to read, to write, to do math, but how they learn that is what makes a magnet school different."

Wake County offers themes in five pathways: STEM, Arts Plus, Gifted and Talented, Global Studies and Language Immersion, and International Baccalaureate.

"We have themes for every kind of learner," said Powell.

Deciding what school is right for your child can be challenging. WCPSS offers many magnet options within each pathway. To help make the decision easier for parents, the schools offer weekly tours.

If a student gravitates to the arts, then perhaps a magnet school with an Arts Plus theme is the best fit. Likewise, if a student loves math or is fascinated by computers, there may be a STEM themed school that is perfect for them. There are programs for nearly every interest, and the list is growing.

Thanks to a recent grant of $13.5 million from The U.S. Department of Education, WCPSS will add exciting new programs as early as next year to the following four schools:

Centennial Campus Center for Innovation Magnet Middle School

East Millbrook Magnet Middle School Academy of Arts & Design

Wake Forest iSTEM Magnet Elementary School

Wildwood Forest Magnet Elementary School Academy of Arts & Design

"We want parents to know about our new schools," said Powell. "Especially if they know their students lean a little STEM-y or a little artsy, one of these schools might be perfect for their child."

Applicants are not accepted on a first-come, first-served basis or on a "who you know" basis. Instead, an algorithm that is directly aligned with the magnet program objectives is used to select students.

"Students are chosen using a selection process that is designed to create a diverse student population in the magnet school. Priority goes to applicants who live in target areas that will help the school be diverse," said Powell.

"Some of the older schools are very popular and harder to get admitted to," said Powell. "And at times, magnet schools get more applications than seats."

Consequently, Powell strongly suggests checking out the newer magnet options for a variety of reasons. First, the innovative concepts are in direct answer to current needs. Also, newer schools, because they are less known, may be easier to be admitted to based on numbers alone. Powell also recommends that parents start the process early.

"You have to do what works best for your family," said Powell. "See what is out there and then make a decision. I hear a lot of parents say, ‘oh, I wish we had started at a magnet school in kindergarten,’ because the magnet seats get filled in kindergarten, and then it’s much harder to get in."

One of the goals of magnet schools is to place students in the best possible learning environment for them.

"I believe if a child is in a place where they feel good, they are going to do better," said Powell.