What exactly is a MAGNET SCHOOL? (Raleigh, Washington: house, neighborhood, magnet schools)

[sjsalerno]

Now that our move is getting closer, I am just curious as to what it is compared to a regular school. Thanks.

[lovebrentwood]

Magnet Programs

The Wake County web site describes magnet schools this way:

"Magnet schools enhance the North Carolina Standard Course of Study with innovative approaches to learning that maximize student potential. Magnets open doors of opportunity and spark the imagination of students, preparing them to become responsible citizens in a global society.
Since 1982, Wake County magnet schools have fostered greater achievement, crafted hotbeds of creativity and cultural diversity, and produced a rich array of educational choices for all students. Our network of magnet schools offer parents a choice of instructional programs such as Creative Arts and Sciences, Gifted and Talented, International Studies, Active Learning & Technology, International Baccalaureate, Center For Spanish Language/IBPYP, Community Model, Leadership, Montessori, Museums, University Connections, Center For Leadership & Technology and Year-Round."

[welovedurham]

Magnet schools "pull" students from all over a district as opposed to neighborhood schools which (typically) draw from students within a zone. Magnet schools often have special programs like lovebrentwood listed.

[BurntHombre]

Found this.

(Intended entirely in a lighthearted spirit.)

[Herd33]

ha ha :-)...Good one BurntHombre!

[giffman]

Typically, a magnet school is in a bad part of town. These schools offer special programs to encourage more affluent, suburban parents to send their kids to them. It's kind of like bussing but on a volunteer basis.

[sergeisnotmyname]

Originally Posted by giffman

Typically, a magnet school is in a bad part of town. These schools offer special programs to encourage more affluent, suburban parents to send their kids to them. It's kind of like bussing but on a volunteer basis.

And for the right kid the schools are phenominal. They may be in the bad parts of town, but they are not bad schools.

My child goes to a magent and I wouldn't want it any other way at this point. She willingly gets up to catch the bus at 5:45 am (we are the first on) when she could go to her base school less then a mile from the house and get up an hour and a half later.....so that tells me a lot.

[lamishra]

Magnets offer special programs and have extended resources not found in base schools in order to "pull" (hencse, the word "MAGNET") high performing children into what would be low performing schools. Each magnet is different in what they offer and usually each magnet has some sort of theme that attracts students/parents. They may be Academically gifted programs, or international studies ro tecnology based. There are many to choose from and some are better than others. You should go to the magnet fair if you are here to sample what each manet school has to offer.

[saturnfan]

My son went to Washington GT Magnet in a bad area and got a great background.

[JillBoBill]

I finished high school at Braoughton (or however you spell it) in downtown Raleigh. They had ONE art course. One.

Think about that. One.

Art 1, Art 2, Art 3, Art 4, you're done. I think they had about two whopping whole art instructors, too. That's quality right there.

They did, however, have all sorts of dancing classes. *eyeroll*



EDIT: Oh, it was a magnet school, I'm told. I lived in Crabtree valley, so it was really far away.