One of the key missions of Magnet Schools of America is to raise public awareness of the benefits and accomplishments of magnet schools. Our organization proactively engages major media outlets to share this good news. Below are examples of this work.
On July 31, the president approved his first piece of major education legislation when he signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century (Perkins V) Act. This law reauthorizes for six years the federal government's main career and technical education program that provides more than $1 billion dollars annually to state and local education agencies. The Perkins Act was originally created in 1984 and is designed to help high school and community college students develop the skills necessary to fill in-demand industry jobs.
By embracing diversity and providing an innovative curriculum focused on individual artistic abilities, New World School of the Arts (NWSA) has established itself as one of Florida’s top magnet schools. The performing arts school has made it its mission to empower students to become local, national and international leaders by challenging them with fresh ideas and pushing them to be active members of a global community. Because of all this and more, Magnet Schools of America has recognized NWSA as one of only 18 Nationally Certified Demonstration Magnet Schools.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA), the national association of magnet and theme-based schools, announces a new cohort of nationally certified magnet schools for 2018.
Research shows that classrooms with students from a wide variety of backgrounds improve achievement, create access to valuable resources, and are better learning environments. Magnet schools were created in the wake of Brown v. Board, with the foundational belief that American students – and American democracy – are better off when our classrooms comprise a wide range of differences and perspectives.
East Career and Technical Academy received the top merit award this year from Magnet Schools of America - the No. 1 honor among the association's many awards. At East, students can choose from eight programs of study ranging from early childhood education to mechanical technology. The students know they're in a special place. "I feel like with them expecting a lot from us, it kind of pushes us toward better," said marketing program junior Aurora Osuna.
New London is the state's only full magnet district. Parents and students can choose themes like STEM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics, language and culture. Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School is project-based learning. For one project, students worked on an opera, where kids wrote, produced, acted, sang and did everything in between!
Last week we were thrilled to see how many magnet schools were among the top schools across the country in the U.S. News and World Report Best High School rankings. If you looked at their rankings of magnets, though, you may have seen that the magazine used a narrow definition for magnet schools, focusing on selective admissions criteria rather than specialized theme-based curriculum and instruction.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is proud to announce that six magnet schools have been ranked within the top 20 Best High Schools in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to this tremendous accomplishment, magnet schools also make up one quarter of the top 100 high schools that were ranked this year.
"The research shows that it leads to better cognitive function for kids so they're going to have better results, academically," Kamin said. "It's also going to help with behavioral issues in the classroom, because if kids are able to move, they're not going to have so much excess energy. They're going to be able to focus, and it's going to solve a lot of the sort of interpersonal issues that come up with kids as well, because they're going to have an opportunity to get that energy out."
Sitting in the back of the classroom, Hermes Velasquez was a quiet student. He had stage fright and was embarrassed to stand up in front of other students at an award-winning magnet school for the performing arts south of Miami. But slowly, with the help of his teacher, Adalberto Acevedo, and the school's family-like culture, Velasquez overcame his stage fright. To get over his fear, he familiarized himself with the stage by helping to put props out. Then he started acting in supporting roles.
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
