MSA District of the Year

ROUND 4 WINNER: Hillsborough County Public Schools

ROUND 5 MATCHUPS

• Match 1: East Baton Rouge Parish Schools vs. Seminole County Public Schools

• Match 2: Orange County Public Schools vs. Clark County School District

• Match 3: Clayton County Public Schools vs. Norwalk Public Schools

• Match 4: Huntsville City Schools vs. Hillsborough County Public Schools

• Match 5:  Wake County Public School System vs. New London Public Schools

• Match 6: Wichita Public Schools vs. School District of Palm Beach County

BYE: Tangipahoa Parish School System

*Match Winner

Check out the description of each district’s family and community partnership initiatives in the match-ups below:

East Baton Rouge Parish School System values strong Family and Community Partnerships as essential to student success and program sustainability. We have established meaningful collaborations with organizations such as the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge General Hospital, Patient Plus Urgent Care, and ExxonMobil, expanding learning beyond the classroom and connecting students to real world experiences. These partnerships support academic enrichment, career exploration, and hands on learning aligned to magnet themes. We also partner with Tangipahoa Parish Schools in a mentorship role, providing guidance and support as they develop and strengthen emerging magnet programs. In addition, the district works closely with several local family engagement organizations to increase communication, participation, and shared decision making. Through collaborative events, resource sharing, and professional expertise, these partnerships foster trust, broaden opportunities, and reinforce a collective commitment to educational excellence for students, families, and the broader community.

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) has consistently prioritized building strong, lasting partnerships with families and the community to enhance student success. Through initiatives like our Community Ambassador and Dividends volunteer programs, SCPS works to empower parents, business partners, and community members with resources and knowledge to actively support public education in Seminole County. The district offers a variety of workshops and events, including school-based parent involvement nights and community forums, to foster open communication and collaboration. SCPS has developed strong connections with local businesses, civic organizations, and higher education institutions to provide students with real-world learning experiences and career opportunities. Additionally, the district’s commitment to community service is reflected in its numerous service-learning projects, where students engage with local organizations to address community needs. These collaborative efforts help create a supportive, inclusive environment that promotes academic excellence and ensures all students have the resources and support they need to succeed.

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has built a strong record of strengthening family and community partnerships through coordinated outreach, volunteer engagement, and collaborative support systems. The district’s Community Outreach programs emphasize shared responsibility for student success, connecting schools with families, local organizations, and volunteers to expand learning opportunities and essential services.
OCPS identifies schools with the greatest need and supports them through initiatives such as the ADDitions School Volunteers program and Partners in Education, which mobilize community members to provide mentoring, enrichment activities, and resources. These partnerships help ensure that every student—especially those in vulnerable communities—receives academic and social support.

The district also participates in Community Partnership Schools, a model that brings together OCPS, local nonprofits, health providers, and universities to offer tutoring, healthcare, and family services.
“

The Clark County School District (CCSD) fosters strong family and community partnerships to create a supportive, theme-integrated educational environment. These partnerships provide students with real-world experiences and families with meaningful opportunities to engage in their child’s education. Key initiatives include:
-District-wide partnerships with organizations like the Vegas Golden Knights, Get Outdoors Nevada, University Medical Center, and The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
-The Kinross Gold Star Award program recognizes outstanding magnet students for academic excellence, leadership, character, and community involvement, with winners receiving certificates, gift cards, and scholarship opportunities.
-CCSD’s Family Engagement Department connects families with resources, including information on magnet schools.
-Magnet schools have their own advisory boards of professionals to ensure that their programs meet industry standards.
-Hands-on learning experiences like Family STEM Day, in collaboration with Google and Discovery Education.
-Partnerships with Nevada colleges and universities provide field trips, dual enrollment credits, and career-related opportunities.

Clayton County Public Schools takes pride in its achievements in fostering Family and Community Partnerships to meet the unique needs of all scholars. Through collaboration with families and valued partners such as Delta Airlines, Atlanta Zoo, PBL Works, Atlanta Aquarium, Morehouse School of Medicine, Clayton State University, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and other area colleges and universities, as well as local medical providers and pharmacists, we have developed innovative strategies to eliminate educational barriers.

These partnerships provide support, empower families, and promote advocacy, inclusivity, and community engagement. By addressing critical needs, we have cultivated trust, open communication, and enduring relationships within our community. From STEM education to health and wellness programs, these initiatives enrich learning experiences and foster the holistic development of our scholars.

Our shared commitment to equity ensures every scholar has access to opportunities for success. Together, we create a nurturing environment where families feel valued, and students thrive.

Norwalk Public Schools has strengthened authentic family and community partnerships across the district. Schools function as welcoming hubs where families engage through walkthroughs, registration nights, STEAM showcases, and student exhibitions celebrating learning and culture. Community partnerships with businesses, higher education institutions, nonprofits, cultural organizations, and faith based groups expand mentorship, enrichment, career exploration, and wraparound supports. Highly visible events including citywide showcases, backpack drives, summer camps, and neighborhood outreach strengthen trust beyond school walls. Centralized welcome centers and multilingual communication ensure families feel informed, respected, and connected. These accomplishments demonstrate shared responsibility for student success, building relationships that support continuity, belonging, and opportunity from kindergarten through graduation. Families are welcomed as partners in learning, decision making, and celebration across the entire K through twelve continuum, strengthening trust, voice, access, and shared commitment to every child’s success districtwide collectively.

Huntsville City Schools has built strong family and community partnerships that enrich student learning and support families. Three district schools—the Academy for Science & Foreign Language, Highlands Elementary, and Goldsmith-Schiffman Elementary—were nationally recognized as National PTA Schools of Excellence for their outstanding family-school engagement efforts, the only such honorees in Alabama.

The district actively collaborates with community organizations to expand opportunities for students and families. For example, HCS partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama to offer free STEM-focused after-school enrichment programs, helping students grow academically while connecting families with trusted community resources.

HCS also works with the Heart of the Valley YMCA to provide high-quality after-school care at multiple elementary schools, offering families safe, engaging programming and extended support.

Additionally, community outreach events like Project Connect bring essential services and support directly to families, strengthening ties between schools and the broader Huntsville community.

Hillsborough County Public Schools magnet schools thrive through robust Family and Community Partnerships that strengthen student learning and expand real-world opportunities. Collaborative relationships with organizations strengthen our magnet pathways by providing students with mentorship, experiential learning, new perspectives, and celebrations. From biotech firms to engineers to hospitals to painters and even wrestlers, business partnerships extend theme-based learning beyond the classroom, offering guest speakers, project support, and authentic career connections. Magnet schools also benefit from higher education collaborations with Hillsborough College, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida which expand dual enrollment access, provide college readiness experience to all grade levels, and connect students with faculty experts. Family outreach remains central to our work when schools host parent workshops, curriculum nights, advisory opportunities, and events that build trust and engagement. These strong partnerships ensure our magnet programs remain vibrant and connected to the families and communities they serve.

Wake County Public School System‘s Strategic Plan includes a specific goal that by 2028, 95% of families will report low barriers to engagement and positive school climate, with attention to eliminating disparities in experiences across demographic groups. Districtwide engagement strategies include surveys of thousands of students, staff, and parents, public forums on assignment and facilities, and community input sessions used to shape strategic goals and annual enrollment decisions. A dedicated family and community outreach office coaches schools on evidence-based strategies to engage diverse families, while schools partner with local businesses, higher education, and community organizations to provide authentic learning and support services.

New London Public Schools has cultivated strong, intentional partnerships with families and community organizations to support the success and growth of its magnet programs. Through regional school choice fairs, guided tours, multilingual outreach, and family information sessions, the district ensures that parents and caregivers are active, informed partners in their children’s educational pathways. NLPS collaborates with local colleges, arts organizations, businesses, and civic groups to provide students with performances, STEM experiences, and career-connected learning opportunities aligned to each magnet theme. Community partners also play a vital role in recruitment and retention, helping extend the district’s reach into surrounding towns and diverse neighborhoods. Regular communication through digital platforms, community events, and school-based family engagement activities strengthens trust and shared responsibility for student success. These partnerships create a supportive ecosystem that expands opportunities for students while reinforcing magnet schools as anchors of community pride and regional collaboration.

Wichita Public Schools employs an entire department dedicated to “Partnerships and Belonging.” The sole purpose of this department is to connect families with district activities and initiatives, as well as attract partnerships of varying degrees. Part of this work includes helping magnet schools make connections with relevant industry partners.

Additionally, WPS holds an annual magnet showcase in which all our magnet schools are represented in our local convention hall where each school has their own unique way of sharing the culture of their program through student testimonials and completed projects on display. One week prior and one week after this event, we have our official “magnet school visitation weeks” where families are encouraged to pop into any magnet school for a tour. This event and these visitation weeks are heavily advertised through mail, radio and TV spots, and social media.

School District of Palm Beach County believes that education is a community endeavor, evidenced by its widespread exemplary community involvement. The District leverages powerful partnerships to enhance the magnet experience, collaborating with industry giants and local institutions such as NextEra Energy, Pratt & Whitney, and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. These partners provide internships, mentorships, and real-world problem-solving scenarios that bring the curriculum to life. The Business Partner in Education program further deepens these ties by integrating health, wellness, and social services directly into school hubs, supporting families holistically. Active School Advisory Councils (SAC) and robust business advisory boards ensure that parents and community leaders have a direct voice in program development. By transforming schools into community centers and inviting local experts into the classroom, SDPBC builds a supportive ecosystem that empowers families and enriches student learning.

Tangipahoa Parish School System values strong family and community partnerships as essential to the success of its magnet programs and districtwide initiatives. The district collaborates with families, local businesses, higher education institutions, and community organizations to expand learning opportunities and support student achievement. Partnerships with Southeastern Louisiana University, Northshore Technical College, North Oaks Medical Center, and other industry leaders provide students with access to dual enrollment, advanced credentialing, and authentic, real-world learning experiences aligned to workforce and postsecondary pathways. Through the district’s Office of Innovation, families are engaged through consistent communication, informational events, and opportunities to participate in school activities and decision-making processes. This office focuses on innovative approaches to strengthen family and community engagement to support positive student outcomes. Community partners further enhance magnet themes through mentorships, guest speakers, internships, hands-on learning experiences, and instructional support. These collaborative efforts strengthen connections and help build a strong, sustainable workforce for the community.