Is a Magnet School the right fit for my child?

By Guest Blogger Theo Helm, Director of Marketing and Communications, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Along with the start of the new year, January brings the chance for students of all ages to make a fresh start at one of 15 magnet programs in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

What makes a magnet school different from other schools? Two things, mainly – unique programs that in turn draw students from all over the county. The schools offer the same standard course of study as all schools in the state, but students benefit from extra attention to themes such as the arts, technology, engineering and the International Baccalaureate program.

The programs are divided into strands designed for students to move from one level to the next, but students can begin a magnet program at any time. Students can follow the renowned International Baccalaureate program from Ashley Elementary to Paisley Middle to Parkland High, or jump in at some point in between. Philo Middle’s international program feeds into Parkland as well. Visual and performing arts programs are offered at Diggs-Latham and Mineral Springs elementary schools, Hill and Mineral Springs middle schools and Parkland and Reynolds high schools. Innovative engineering programs at Hanes Middle can lead to one of three schools at Atkins High: Biotechnology, Computer Technology and Pre-Engineering. Attending a magnet program at one level does not require you to continue at the next level.

The schools are open for tours so students and their families can visit and see which school is the right fit. Please call the school you’re interested in to arrange a time. All of the schools will be represented at our annual Magnet Fair this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the South Main Hall at the Benton Convention Center. Current magnet students will be performing and showing off their work, and principals and teachers will be there to answer questions.

Students are admitted to a magnet school by application. Applications are due Jan. 22 and can be filled out online or at each school. Students are accepted as long as space is available, and lotteries are held if more students apply than the school has space. Students find out if they are accepted by the end of January, and they will start attending the school in August 2010.

Transportation is provided to each student in the county to any magnet school except the Downtown School through our Magnet Express bus program. Parents take students to a supervised drop-off point – usually the school closest to the family’s home – and buses take the students from there to the magnet school.

More information can be found at www.wsfcsmagnets.net or by calling 727-2519, ext. 4.

Additional Resources:

List of magnet schools (includes descriptions to each, phone numbers and links to each school’s Web site): http://www.wsfcsmagnets.net/schools.asp
Online application: http://www.wsfcsmagnets.net/schools.asp
International Baccalaureate site: http://www.ibo.org/

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Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM