Magnet Schools of America Recognizes 77 Nationally Certified Schools

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC (August 25, 2026) — Magnet Schools of America (MSA) has named 40 Nationally Certified Schools and 37 Nationally Certified Demonstration Schools, bringing the total number of nationally certified schools across the country to 337. As shining examples of magnet school excellence, these schools offer exceptional learning opportunities and join a distinguished, growing group of nationally recognized magnet programs. 

MSA launched the certification program in 2016 as a comprehensive framework to help magnet schools achieve their highest potential. Schools seeking certification are rigorously evaluated against the Magnet School Standards of Excellence and the five pillars of magnet schools. The application process requires schools to provide detailed evidence of their efforts to bring together students from different neighborhoods and backgrounds, eliminate barriers to student success, implement innovative curricula, and foster strong parent and community partnerships. Achieving certification is a challenging process that highlights a school’s strengths and earns it national recognition.

This cohort’s newly certified schools are located across 14 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The 37 schools that attained Certified Demonstration status not only met the Standards of Excellence, but exceeded the criteria and will serve as learning models for magnets across the country to replicate. Among the 337 certified schools to date, 142 have been designated as Certified Demonstration Schools. 

“We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our newly Nationally Certified magnet schools,” said Ramin Taheri, CEO of Magnet Schools of America. “As the only organization that certifies magnet schools, MSA sets a rigorous, magnet-specific standard of excellence that recognizes schools for embodying the core principles of magnet and theme-based education. The schools we are recognizing today have worked tirelessly to meet MSA’s  standards, and we are proud to honor their dedication and the meaningful impact they are making for students and communities.”

For more information about Magnet Schools of America’s Certification Program, visit: https://magnet.edu/leadership-institute/certification/

See the full list of Certified schools.

See the full list of Certified Demonstration schools.

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Media Contact: Jenna Roberson, Director of External Affairs (jenna.roberson@magnet.edu)

Founded in 1986, Magnet Schools of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education association representing and serving the nation’s thousands of magnet and theme-based schools. MSA provides technical assistance and professional development through its National Institute for Magnet School Leadership (NIMSL).

2026 Nationally Certified Demonstration Schools

(Schools are listed in alphabetical order by state.)

School Name	Theme	District	State
New River Middle School Marine Science & iCAN	Marine Science & iCAN	Broward County Public Schools	FL
Air Base K-8 Center for International Education	Spanish; French	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12	Conservation Biology	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Frank C. Martin International K-8 Center	International Baccalaureate	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
George Washington Carver Middle School	International Education	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Herbert A. Ammons Middle School International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program	Spanish; French	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
New World School of the Arts	Visual & Performing Arts: art, dance, music & theatre	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Sunset Elementary School/International Studies Magnet Program	International Studies -French; International Studies -German; International Studies – Spanish	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Young Women’s Preparatory Academy	Leadership	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Wendell Krinn Technical High School	Whole School Technical High School	Pasco County Schools	FL
Douglas L. Jamerson Jr. Elementary Center for Mathematics and Engineering	STEM	Pinellas County Schools	FL
James B. Sanderlin IB World School	International Baccalaureate	Pinellas County Schools	FL
Bethune Academy	Cambridge Global Perspectives	The School Board of Polk County	FL
James E. Stephens Academy	International Baccalaureate	The School Board of Polk County	FL
R.W. Blake Academy	Cambridge, Makerspace, Fabrication Lab	The School Board of Polk County	FL
Rex Mill Middle School	STEM	Clayton County Public Schools	GA
Jungman STEM Magnet School	STEM	Chicago Public Schools	IL
Beacon Academy of Media and Digital Arts	Digital and Media Arts	Elgin Area Schools District U-46	IL
Bartlett High School/STEM Academy	Engineering, Project Development, Science, High Technology Manufacturing	Elgin Area Schools District U-46	IL
Streamwood LEAD Academy	Leadership; Entrepreneurship; Design Thinking	Elgin Area Schools District U-46	IL
Larkin High School Visual & Performing Arts Academy	Dance; Theatre; Visual Arts; Instrumental Music; Vocal Music	Elgin Area Schools District U-46	IL
Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School	Traditional Program	Jefferson County Public Schools	KY
Lindale Middle School/STEM Program	STEM	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	MD
Central Middle School – A STEM Magnet School	STEM	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	MD
Wake Forest iSTEM Magnet Elementary School	iSTEM	Wake County Public School System	NC
Valley High School Engineering the Future	STEM, Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science, Welding, Carpentry, JROTC, Business	Albuquerque Public Schools	NM
Mission Avenue STEM Magnet Elementary School	STEM	Albuquerque Public Schools	NM
MS 50 The Magnet School for Debate and Youth Leadership	Debate; Youth Leadership	NYC District 14	NY
W.A. Perry Middle School – BLAST Magnet Program	Aerospace, Aviation, STEM	Richland County School District One	SC
MED at Bridge Creek Elementary	STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, & Medical)	Richland School District Two	SC
Center for Knowledge and Center for Knowledge North	Core Knowledge	Richland School District Two	SC
North Springs Elementary School	STEMS Magnet Program	Richland School District Two	SC
The Academy for Civic Engagement at Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary	Government, Economics, Service Learning	Richland School District Two	SC
Kelly Mill Middle School Med Pro & INC	Med Pro: STEAM+Medical (Whole School Magnet); INC. (Program-Within-A-School Magnet)	Richland School District Two	SC
Rice Creek Elementary School of Academics, Innovation, and Leadership	STEAMM	Richland School District Two	SC
H. E. Corley Elementary School, A Leadership & A Montessori Magnet School	Leadership; Montessori	District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties	SC
Richardson West Junior High Arts & Technology Magnet	Theatre Arts, Communication Arts, Culinary Arts, Visual Arts, Technology and Robotics	Richardson Independent School District	TX

2026 Nationally Certified Magnet Schools

(Schools are listed in alphabetical order by state.)

School Name	Theme	District	State
Lee High School Creative and Performing Arts Magnet	Creative and Performing Arts Conservatories – Dance Arts; Theatrical Arts; Musical Arts; Creative Arts	Huntsville City Schools	AL
Roskruge Bilingual K-8 Magnet School	Two-Way Dual Language	Tucson Unified School District	AZ
Tully STEAM-EMpowered GATE	STEAM; GATE	Tucson Unified School District	AZ
Chatsworth Charter High School & G+STEAM Magnet Center	Highly Gifted; Science; Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math	Los Angeles Unified School District	CA
Reseda Charter High School Police Academy Magnet	Public Service; Public Safety	Los Angeles Unified School District	CA
Coral Gables Senior High School	IB and Academy of Finance	Miami Dade County Public Schools	FL
Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts	Fine Arts	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Design and Architecture Senior High School	Entertainment Technology; Visual Communications; Fashion; Architecture; Industrial Design	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
iPreparatory Academy PK-12	International Education/Global Focus	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Medical Academy for Science and Technology (MAST@Homestead)	Biomedical, iMed, Pharmed, Physical Therapy	Miami-Dade County Public Schools	FL
Orlando Gifted Academy	Gifted Education	Orange County Public Schools	FL
James M. Marlowe Elementary School	STEAM	Pasco County Schools	FL
Mildred Helms Elementary IB World School	IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)	Pinellas County Schools	FL
Daniel Jenkins Academy	Cambridge Global Perspectives	The School Board of Polk County	FL
Fred G. Garner Academy	STEM	The School Board of Polk County	FL
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy	International Baccalaureate	The School Board of Polk County	FL
Benjamin Banneker 3DE Magnet Program	3DE	Fulton County Schools	GA
Northview High School	3DE by Junior Achievement	Fulton County Schools	GA
Tri-Cities High School	Visual and Performing Arts (VPA); 3DE	Fulton County Schools	GA
Jonathan Burr Elementary School	World Language (Japanese); Personalized Learning	Chicago Public Schools	IL
Albert E. Meyzeek Middle School MST	Math Science Technology (MST)	Jefferson County Public Schools	KY
duPont Manual High School	Math Science & Technology (MST); Visual Arts (VA); Journalism & Communications (J&C); High School University (HSU); and Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS)	Jefferson County Public Schools	KY
Grace James Academy of Excellence	STEAM through an Afrocentric Lens	Jefferson County Public Schools	KY
Western High School-The STEM Magnet	STEM	Jefferson County Public Schools	KY
Idlewild Elementary School – Learning Immersion & Talent Development	Learning Immersion & Talent Development	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	NC
Brentwood Magnet Elementary School of Engineering	Engineering	Wake County Public School System	NC
Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design	Entrepreneurial Design	Wake County Public School System	NC
Millbrook Magnet High School	International Baccalaureate	Wake County Public School System	NC
Brooks Museums Magnet Elementary School	Museums	Wake County Public School System	NC
Wake STEM Early College High School	STEM/Early College	Wake County Public School System	NC
Carnage GT/AIG Basics Magnet Middle School	Gifted and Talented; AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) Basics	Wake County Public School System	NC
Douglas Creative Arts & Science Magnet Elementary	Creative Arts & Science	Wake County Public School System	NC
East Cary Magnet Middle School Center for Global Studies	Global Studies; World Language	Wake County Public School System	NC
Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School	International Studies Magnet	Wake County Public School System	NC
Early College Academy	Early College; Career Readiness	Albuquerque Public Schools	NM
Dent Middle School/FAME, The Learning Collaborative, Two Academies	FAME (Fine Arts and Media Enrichment magnet) (visual and performing arts with technology – whole school); The Learning Collaborative (academic magnet program – program within a school magnet); Two Academies (single gender program within a school magnet)	Richland School District Two	SC
Summit Parkway Middle School – The Academy of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine/STEM Institute of Design and Innovation	Health Science and Fitness; STEM and Design Thinking	Richland School District Two	SC
Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet	STEAM	District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties	SC
Idlewild Elementary School	Science; Technology	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	TN
Math Science Technology Magnet Elementary School	Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics	Richardson Independent School District	TX

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