Wake County Magnet Schools Earn National Honors

February 11, 2009 - Eighteen magnet schools in the Wake County Public School System have been notified by the Magnet Schools of America of their selection from a pool of more than 2,000 magnet schools from across the nation as MSA Schools of Excellence or MSA Schools of Distinction. 

Listen to Donna Hargens and Cathy Williams discuss the MSA Awards Earned by WCPSS magnet schools

4.5 minute mp3 file

“We had more schools recognized this year than in any other year which is really outstanding,” said Donna Hargens, WCPSS Chief Academic Officer. “It just shows the quality of the magnet school program in the Wake County Public School System.”

Five Schools - Farmington Woods Elementary, Joyner Elementary, East Garner Middle, Ligon Middle and Enloe High - were among 53 MSA 2009 Schools of Excellence. The five schools are in the running for the Simpson Distinguished Merit award, recognizing the top magnet school in the nation and providing a $5,000 cash award.

Past WCPSS winners of the Simpson award include Bugg Elementary, Combs Elementary, Washington Elementary and Enloe High.

MSA 2009 Schools of Excellence
Farmington Woods Elementary is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme magnet school serving students in kindergarten to fifth grade. It has 850 students in Cary. The school’s principal is Frances Venezia.

Joyner Elementary is a Center for Spanish Language and International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme magnet school serving students in kindergarten to fifth grade. It has 580 students in Raleigh. The school’s principal is Christopher Knott.

East Garner Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme magnet school serving students in grades six through eight. It has 1,100 students in Garner. The school’s principal is Cathy Williams.

Ligon Middle School is a Gifted and Talented magnet school serving students in grades six through eight. It has 1,100 students in Raleigh. The school’s principal is Scott Lyons.

Enloe High is a Gifted and Talented and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Center for Humanities, Sciences and the Arts magnet school serving students in grades nine through twelve. It has 2,600 students in Raleigh. The school’s principal is Beth Cochran.

MSA 2009 Schools of Distinction
The Magnet Schools of America selected eight WCPSS magnet schools among the 74 MSA 2009 Schools of Distinction.

The schools will be honored at the 27th Magnet Schools of America Conference in April in Charlotte, NC.  School representatives will receive a plaque during the awards ceremony that is the culmination of the conference.

Magnet Schools of America is a collaborative network of thousands of U.S. magnet schools that provide leadership for innovative instructional programs that promote equity, diversity, and academic excellence for all students in public school choice programs. The schools were selected from a national field of more than 2,000 candidate magnet schools based on criteria that includes innovative instructional strategies, student achievement, desegregation and diversity goals, and parent and community involvement in the magnet school.

“This gives parents a great look from a national perspective about the quality of our programs,” said Dr. Hargens.

WCPSS magnet schools are currently accepting applications online through February 28, 2009. If you have questions, please call 501-7900 or explore our website at  http://www.wcpss.net/magnet .

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