13,500 Apply to Magnet and Calendar-Option Schools
March 12, 2008 - A total of 13,500 unique applications were received from families applying for magnet or calendar options in the Wake County Public School System during this year’s application period in February.
2008-09 Applications |
|
13,500 |
applications |
9,100 |
magnet applicants |
3,773 |
year-round applicants |
2,329 |
traditional calendar applicants |
| Some applicants may have requested both magnet and calendar option schools. | |
The school system received a total of 15,219 applications. Families are allowed to make repeat applications and only the last one submitted is reviewed by the school system. With duplicates removed, the school system received a total of 13,500 unique applications. This compares to last year’s total of 14,925 applications and 12,365 unique applications.
Of the 13,500 applications, there were 9,100 applicants for magnet schools, 3,773 applicants for year-round schools and 2,329 traditional calendar requests. This compares with last year’s applications with 9,347 magnet school requests, 3,395 year-round requests and 1,529 traditional calendar requests.
Families have options to find the best learning environment for their child and may apply to magnet schools with creative instructional themes created as a tool to attract students to schools that may otherwise be underutilized. Students attending traditional calendar schools have the option to apply to year-round schools. Students in year-round schools have the option to apply to traditional calendar schools. Some families submitted applications selecting both a magnet and calendar option.
Placements being made
Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney said the school system was able to place all students in the traditional calendar seats requested by families. Dulaney said 41 percent of the students applying to magnet schools have been initially placed. This compares with 42 percent last year. 48 percent of students applying to year-round schools have been initially placed, compared with 37 percent last year.
A review of the magnet school program by the Board of Education led to a decision to de-magnetize four schools and convert them over time to non-magnet schools. This year parents could not apply to these four schools. There were 550 magnet applications last year to the four schools.
Families alerted to options
The school system took steps this year to alert families to the application process with several letters, working to help families understand their options for the coming school year.
Parents of all current students impacted by the 2008-09 Growth Management Plan received a letter telling them about the reassignment of their child and about the magnet and calendar option application process.
Parents of all current students attending traditional calendar schools because of the non-consent process resulting from Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning’s ruling last year received a letter reminding them the placement was for one year and encouraging them to apply for a traditional calendar permanent placement.
Timeline for family action
WCPSS Growth and Planning will send letters to parents informing them of magnet/calendar application results on March 14. If they were placed, families must then let the school system know by April 14 if they want to accept placement, or remain at their current assignment. Once these letters are received, WCPSS Growth and Planning will make additional offers to fill seats left vacant by families choosing to decline placement. This will allow WCPSS Growth and Planning to finalize placements, preparing for the publishing of assignment strips to be given to students on May 15.
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