Magnet School Merit Awards Program

Congratulations to the 2025 National Magnet School Merit Award Winners!

Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence, MSA’s most prestigious award for magnet schools. Cleveland Charter High School Humanities Magnet, Reseda, California, Los Angeles Unified School District. Cleveland Humanities Magnet is a masterclass in what happens when education is rooted in the study of human beings across time and space. At the CORE, literally and figuratively, they emphasize history, literature, philosophy, and art, all integrated into a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum.

Donald R. Waldrip Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Millbrook Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary, Wake County, North Carolina. At Millbrook, students don’t just sit in classrooms—they embark on expeditions, dive into environmental inquiry, and experience field lessons that bring learning to life. They literally have expedition electives as a part of their school day. Millbrook seamlessly weaves the Environmental Connections theme throughout the core curriculum and physical environment.

Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School, Wake County, North Carolina. At Lincoln, every lesson, project, and expedition is designed through the lens of environmental and life sciences, giving students the tools to understand, explore, and protect the world around them. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom—it happens outdoors, in nature’s very own laboratory. Through hands-on experiences, project-based inquiry, and interdisciplinary expeditions, students discover how humanity and nature are deeply connected.

Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada. Their students dive deep into immersive, hands-on arts training and experiences that connect passion with purpose. Each year, students take three specialized performing arts major classes and five arts-integrated core classes–from Band and Choir to Costume Design, Cinematic Arts to Mariachi, Theatre, Dance, Vocal, Orchestra and more! 

President’s Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Echo Park Elementary School of Leadership, Engineering, and Technology, Burnsville, Minnesota. At Echo Park, students aren’t just learning; they’re engineering solutions, tackling real-world problems, and using their voices to make an impact. With a curriculum that’s rigorous and hands-on, students develop problem-solving skills and critical and creative thinking. They offer a variety of before-school electives and extended-day Engineering enrichments. The magic of Echo Park’s magnet programming isn’t just in what students learn, it’s in how they learn.

New & Emerging Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Stephen Decatur Middle School 35 – Magnet School of Leadership, Exploration, and the Arts, New York City, District 16. At Stephen Decatur, students aren’t just learning, they’re becoming confident, creative, and compassionate leaders. With a curriculum that blends core academics, leadership skills, the arts, and social awareness, this school is truly about educating the whole child. 

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EXCELLENCE + INNOVATION + DIVERSITY + COMMUNITY

All magnet schools share the philosophy of executing innovative programs with a dedication to diversity and an unwavering commitment to academic standards – because that is the Magnet School ‘standard.’

The Magnet School of Merit Awards elevates that standard to recognize member magnet schools/programs that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to academic standards, curriculum innovation, desegregation/diversity efforts, specialized teaching staffs and parent and community involvement.

The 2024-2025 Merit Award categories are:

  • (1a) School of Excellence – Whole School Magnet
  • (1b) School of Excellence – Program Within-a-School*
  • (1c) School of Excellence – New & Emerging
  • (2a) School of Distinction – Whole School Magnet
  • (2b) School of Distinction – Program Within-a-School*
  • (2c) School of Distinction – New & Emerging

*Program Within-a-School programs must consist of at least twenty percent (20%) of the student population involved in the program OR a minimum of 150 students.

The Magnet School of Excellence is the top merit award category and is only awarded to a select group of magnet schools.

The Magnet School of Distinction is the second-highest award of recognition.

To receive a merit award member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators. Cash awards are provided to the top Magnet Schools of Excellence.

TOP NATIONAL AWARDS

The Dr. Ronald P. Simpson School of Excellence Award is considered the most prestigious award for magnet schools in the nation and includes a $5,000 cash award presented to the winning school.

This award recognizes the work of Dr. Ronald P. Simpson, one of the founding members of Magnet Schools of America who worked in the Kansas City (Missouri) Public School System. He also served as the second MSA president from 1994-1995.

Magnet Schools of America created national awards for elementary and secondary Magnet Schools of Excellence, both include cash awards of $2,500. The Magnet Schools of Excellence award is sponsored by Magnet Schools of America and is named after Dr. Donald Waldrip, founder and MSA’s first Executive Director.

The Presidents’ Award is Magnet Schools of America’s third highest honor and is bestowed on behalf of all Presidents, past and present, of MSA.

The New and Emerging Magnet School of Excellence Award is recognized nationally for its leadership and commitment to magnet schools, the Washington, DC Law Firm Hogan Lovells is the sponsor of this $1,000 cash award.

*ALL PREVIOUS MONETARY AWARD RECIPIENTS are NOT eligible to receive cash awards for five years after the initial award, but are eligible for the Excellence and Distinction award categories.  Exception: A New and Emerging School, having completed its fourth year, may be eligible for other cash awards in their category. 


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