2013-14 Selection Priorities

Magnet Selection Priorities for Elementary School

• Priority 1:  Incoming K, siblings of current students wanting assignment to the same school. Guaranteed if the request is made during the magnet application period. Siblings must apply.

After assigning the students who meet the criteria above and vacancies have been determined, 90% of these vacancies will be filled from valid applications in the following order:

• Priority 2:  Students residing in an area designated as “high-performing” whose first-choice school is a magnet school. “High-performing area” is defined as a node where the three year average proficiency rate is in the top third of the district by rank order.  Proficiency rate averages are based on all state tests taken by any student living in that node (i.e., EOG, EOC, Writing Test) over the past three years. Review node performance trends for 2009-11.
• Priority 3:  Students whose base school is severely overcrowded and select a magnet school.
• Priority 4: Non-entry grade siblings of current students whose first choice school is their sibling’s school

10% of vacancies identified above will be filled randomly from all remaining non-priority applications.

Magnet Selection Priorities for Middle and High School

• Priority 1:  Incoming 6th, and 9th siblings of current students wanting assignment to the same school. Guaranteed if the request is made during the magnet application period. Siblings must apply.

After assigning the students who meet the criteria above and vacancies have been determined, 90% of these vacancies will be filled from valid applications in the following order:

• Priority 2:  Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 magnet students rising into 6th or 9th grade that have attended a Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 magnet elementary school or middle school whose first choice is the magnet middle or high school for their magnet program pathway .
• Priority 3:  Group 1, 2, and 3 magnet students rising into 6th or 9th grade whose first choice is a magnet middle or high school other than their program pathway.
• Priority 4:  Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 non-magnet students rising into 6th or 9th grade that have attended a Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 magnet elementary school or middle school whose first choice is the magnet middle or high school for their magnet program pathway.
• Priority 5:  Students residing in an area designated as “high-performing” whose first-choice school is a magnet school. “High-performing area” is defined as a node where the three year average proficiency rate is in the top third of the district by rank order.  Proficiency rate averages are based on all state tests taken by any student living in that node (i.e., EOG, EOC, Writing Test) over the past three years. Review node performance trends for 2009-11.
• Priority 6:  Students whose base school is severely overcrowded and select a magnet school.
• Priority 7: Non-entry grade siblings of current students whose first choice school is their sibling’s school.

10% of vacancies identified above will be filled randomly from all remaining non-priority applications.

First Transfer Application Period Priorities

• Priority 1:  Incoming K, 6th, and 9th siblings of current non-base students wanting assignment to the same school if you chose this as your only choice and the request is made during the school selection period (guaranteed).
• Priority 2:  “Stay where you start” – Existing students requesting grandfathering when they have been assigned to a new school if you make this request during the school selection period (guaranteed).  Parent must provide transportation.
• Priority 3:  Students requesting assignment for K to the same school where they attended preschool if their preschool was not their base school.
• Priority 4:  Students attending an elementary school whose base middle school is not a calendar match and who select a middle school that continues their elementary school calendar.
• Priority 5:  Students requesting a calendar to match the calendar of a sibling for grades K – 8.
• Priority 6:  Students whose base school is severely overcrowded and select a school that is not overcrowded as their first choice.
• Priority 7:  Students rising into sixth or ninth grade requesting their choice plan feeder pattern middle or high school as their first choice school.
• Priority 8: Non-entry grade siblings of current students whose first choice school is their sibling’s school.