Applications are NOT first-come, first-served. Families are notified via email if they receive a seat a school to which they applied. 

Tutorial video on how to submit a Magnet/Year-round application

Eligibility

Only students who are enrolled in a Wake County Public School System school for the 2023-24 school year can apply. If your student does not currently attend a WCPSS school (ie. rising into kindergarten, homeschooled, or currently attending a charter or private school) they will need to enroll online and get a student ID number prior to submitting an application.

Prioritization
Families can apply to more than one school, including applying to multiple magnet and year-round choice schools. You should know that applications are prioritized based on the type of school. Learn how we prioritize multiple applications.

Selection
The purpose of the magnet schools program is to reduce high concentrations of poverty in schools; promote diverse, integrated school populations; maximize the use of school facilities and provide innovative educational opportunities. To that end, we consider two key factors in the magnet selection process:

• Projected overall socioeconomic status of the school to which that student is assigned for next year. 
• Socioeconomic status of the area where the applying student resides

Learn how we select students for magnet schools based on these factors.

Transportation
Choosing a school also means choosing transportation services. Here are some instructions on how to make sure the transportation services will meet the needs of your family:

• Verify the type of transportation you are eligible for by searching for your address in Magnet and Application schools, to see the list of magnet, early college, and calendar options and the level of transportation service.
• Some magnet schools may require parents to provide transportation either to school or to an express bus stop.
• Some magnet students who receive neighborhood busing can experience ride times longer than an hour. 

Results and Options
Magnet, early college, or year-round application results are not eligible for appeal. If you are not satisfied with your school placement, you may submit a transfer request to be re-assigned to your base school during the "Request for Transfer Period". "Back to base" requests submitted during this transfer period are guaranteed to be approved. You will remain in the applicant pool for your first choice magnet, early college, or year-round school even if you request to go back to your base school. 

Applicant pools
Students who do not receive a seat at their first-choice magnet, early college, or year-round school will be placed in an applicant pool for that school. If you applied to more than one school, you may be assigned to one of your other choices and remain in the applicant pool for your first choice magnet, early college, or year-round school. Applicant pools will be reviewed in the spring. You will be notified via your online account if you receive a seat in your first-choice school. 

You will need time to submit a complete Early College application. The application includes a student-written essay for each school; recommendations from the ELA teacher, the MAT teacher, and a school administrator or school counselor; two years of prior grades, current grades, and two years of prior standardized test scores.  

Tutorial video on how to submit an early college application

Application Process

1. The application period begins in the fall for the following school year. Applications are not first-come, first-served.
2. If you are not already enrolled, you need to enroll in your base school for your address. Find your base school.
3. You can start your enrollment forms online at wcpss.net/enroll
4. Once enrolled with a student ID number, create your parent account at wcpss.schoolmint.com/login. You must have an active student ID number to create an account. 
5. You will complete your application in the parent account. You may apply to as many early colleges as you are eligible for.
6. You will be notified of the results in mid-February 2023. View Early College selection priorities.
7. If you are selected, you will be automatically assigned to that school. If you are not selected, you will be placed on a non-numeric waiting list, known as an applicant pool, for the school you listed as your first choice. 

Information About Magnet and Early College Applications

• You may apply to both Early Colleges and magnet and year-round schools.
• The Early College application will be processed first.
• If the student is selected for the Early College, the student will be assigned to the Early College and the magnet/year-round application will NOT be processed.
• If the student is not selected for the Early College, the student will be assigned to the applicant pool (a non-numeric waiting list) for the Early College they listed as their first choice and the magnet/year-round application will be processed.
• You may be seated at your first choice magnet school and that would be your new assigned school.
• If not, it is possible to be placed in the applicant pool for both your first choice Early College and your first choice magnet/year-round school. You will be notified if you receive a seat at either place. 
• Applicant pools will be processed in the spring to fill any vacant seats.