In contrast with charter and private schools, a magnet school is an exclusive part of the local public school system. Normal public schools use geographic zones to determine where students will attend school. This means that students attend the school that is closest to where they live. Magnet schools operate outside of zoned school boundaries, but remain under the same administration as nearby public schools. The U.S. Department of Education provides financial assistance for these schools through their Magnet Schools Assistance program.
What is the Purpose of Magnet Schools?
Magnet schools originally began as part of a mass effort to desegregate public schools. Today, they serve the same mission by giving students opportunities to select schools that best fit their needs. Ideally, these same students will enrich the school’s demographic makeup by representing different social and ethnic backgrounds. When it comes to the curriculum, almost all magnet schools use special course loads to incentivize students from various neighborhoods to attend. The goal is to gather students who all share common academic interests, such as in math, science or the arts. Some magnet schools focus on college preparation or cater to exceptionally gifted students.
The Admissions Process
Regular public schools usually only require applications filled out by parents who live within the designated school zone. Gaining admission into a magnet school is by no means easy because they are empowered to base their admission requirements on different factors. For instance, many magnet schools require candidates to successfully pass entrance exams to ensure that they are academically competent and prepared to handle the advanced courses. Some magnet schools employ a lottery system, which operates by randomly drawing applications, and some use a point system, which means candidates are awarded points for things like living in crowded school zones. Only a few magnet schools use open enrollment that qualifies candidates based on their age and grade level as well as the school’s current capacity.
Similarities and Differences
While public, charter and magnet schools share many similarities, they are very different in certain ways. To illustrate, both charter and magnet schools are technically public schools, but charter schools are not required to follow the same state rules and regulations that public and magnet schools must follow. Instead, charter schools are free to select which textbooks to use, which courses to teach and which teachers to hire. That is, they are allowed to hire teachers who do not meet the state’s minimum licensing qualifications. Magnet and public schools are managed by the school district, but charter schools are controlled by an internal board of directors. The admissions processes in magnet schools is often quite rigorous and competitive, but charter schools use open enrollment admission and maintain long wait lists.
In the end, magnet schools are popular because they offer programs for gifted students, encourage parental involvement and help students better prepare for college. A magnet school offers exclusive benefits while still being open to the public.
See also: What is a Charter School?
