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 2023-2024 Merit Award categories are:
*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.
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.
National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
There are two categories of merit awards: (1) Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools and (2) Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition.
North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, California – Awarded the Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Merit Award of Excellence, MSA’s most prestigious award for magnet schools. The North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet Center inspires and develops our students’ interests in biological and zoological sciences by providing relevant, hands-on instruction to extend learning beyond the classroom. The Zoo Magnet is recognized by the American Association of Zookeepers as one of only six high schools in the nation partnered with a working zoo. Our close proximity and ongoing collaboration with the Los Angeles Zoo, Autry Museum of the American West, and Griffith Park Rangers facilitates implementation of unique internships, animal science courses, and interdisciplinary, magnet-themed curriculum.
University Avenue Aerospace, Children’s Engineering, and Science Elementary, Anoka-Hennepin School District #11, Blaine, Minnesota – Awarded the Donald R. Waldrip Merit Award of Excellence. University Avenue Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science (ACES) is a K-5 school in the Anoka-Hennepin District that has an Aerospace and Children’s Engineering theme supported at all grade levels through STEM practices and Leadership mindsets. The school approaches student learning in unique ways to better engage nearly six hundred highly diverse learners and their families, while also leveraging community resources and partnerships. University Avenue ACES weaves its theme and leadership paradigms throughout core curriculum, partnerships, and special added-value engagement for students, families, and staff. These experiences and the intentional curriculum integration works to narrow opportunity gaps while also engaging all students in hands-on, real-world, data-informed, problem and project-based collaborative learning.
Washington Gifted & Talented Magnet Elementary School, Wake County Public School System, Raleigh, North Carolina – Awarded the Elementary Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence. Washington Gifted and Talented Elementary, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1923 as the first public school for African-Americans in Raleigh, NC. Washington creates a vibrant learning community that makes possible academic, social, and emotional success for students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The 40-year program continues to be one of the most sought after magnet elementary schools in the county. Washington combines strong instructional practices in the core subjects with over 200 elective offerings that are designed to enrich and support while extending and enhancing the core curriculum. Washington is noteworthy for finding and nurturing the “gifts and talents” of all students through a unique educational program that cares for the whole child.
Cashman Middle School, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada – Awarded the Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Academy at Cashman Middle School was developed to excite and engage students while educating them about various fields in the engineering world. The STEAM Academy enriches the district’s science curriculum with the Project Lead The Way program to build students’ creative thinking and creative problem solving skills. This science, technology, and arts based program allows students the opportunity to develop strong backgrounds in mathematics, science, and engineering, while showing students how creative thinking is necessary to solve the engineering problems posed to them. Through a shared vision, the entire staff has united to provide rigorous instruction and support for all students.
PS 55Q, The Maure Magnet School of Communication Arts, Technology and Multimedia, NYC Community School District 28, Richmond Hill, New York – Awarded the President’s Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. At PS55Q, The Maure Magnet School of Communication Arts, Technology and Multimedia, we recognize the importance of communication and innovation in an ever-changing and sometimes divided world. We understand that it is not only important for students to read, write, speak and listen, but they must also be able to think critically and reach across differences to connect, create, empathize, and innovate. Teachers, along with partners and industry-professionals, co-construct project-based learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom, that are culturally-responsive, standards-aligned, and rooted in multimedia, digital-literacy, innovation, and the arts. We challenge students to be curious about their surroundings and act as explorers, advocates, designers, and problem-solvers, to answer essential questions and work together to make a positive impact on the world.
Chatsworth Park Urban Planning and Community Development Magnet Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chatsworth, California – Awarded the New & Emerging Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Chatsworth Park Urban Planning and Community Development (UP/CD) Magnet serves 385 students kindergarten through fifth grade in Chatsworth, California. Chatsworth Park UP/CD Magnet strives to engage students in inspiring and challenging curriculum that will provide them with the 21st Century skills to be college, career, and world ready as well as responsible community advocates. Their focus is to nurture students who will better understand the relationship between urban planning and community issues. Chatsworth Park UP/CD Magnet embraces Project Based Learning (PBL) as an authentic learning methodology while providing students opportunities in differentiation of process and product. Chatsworth Park UP/CD Magnet also integrates innovative technology into PBL to engage and excite students in their learning.
Richland School District Two, SC – Awarded the Donna Grady-Creer District Award for Magnet Sustainability. Richland Two strives to be the premier school district — a learning and working environment where all partners are committed to creating, sustaining, and investing in a culture and environment of excellence and where all are afforded the opportunity to maximize their gifts and talents as they pursue their pathways to purpose.
A complete list of winners can be accessed below.
National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
There are two categories of merit awards: (1) Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools and (2) Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition.
Southeast Career Technical Academy (Clark County School District, Nevada) – Awarded the Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence, MSA’s most prestigious award for magnet schools. Southeast Tech, the first career technical academy in Clark County has served as a model for other technical academies for over 50 years. The school motto, “We Build Futures!” begins with a required freshman course, Tools for Success, that teaches life skills such as finance, social skills, and workplace readiness and is then delivered through 12 career programs including among others, Animation and Digital Game Development, Architectural Engineering, Automotive Service, a full Cosmetology College, Nursing, Photography, and Sports Medicine. Students in every career technical program are offered the opportunity to participate in internships, job shadowing, and job interviews within their career technical industry.
Cutler Bay Senior High School COAST Academy (Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida) – Awarded the Donald R. Waldrip Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Miami’s Cutler Bay Ocean Academy’s coastal wetlands provide an ideal environment for marine life and oceanic studies. Students used a sailboat kit provided by one of the school’s community partners in a boat-building project that incorporated engineering, chemistry, painting, photographic, and artistic skills that ended in a sailing expedition in Biscayne Bay employing meteorological and navigational techniques. The new Pre-Advanced Placement Music course explores the creation of musical journeys emulating the sounds of the sea. COAST’s objectives are dedicated to ensuring the sustained viability of marine ecosystems and species, thereby protecting our ocean biome and the livelihood of local communities for future generations.
WJ Bryan Museums Magnet School (Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida) – Awarded the Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. WJ Bryan Museums Magnet School, housed in a 1929 historic building, is itself a museum where objects and artifacts guide instruction. Arched hallways feature the edible food forest and photographs of student learning expeditions and awards. Students attend learning expeditions at various museums to reinforce in-class lessons and create extension activities utilizing the design-based learning ideology such as project and object-based learning. “The Villagers’ Museum Gallery features student projects and class projects exemplifying the connections made at the museums.” The school connects life, art, and learning in creative and inspiring ways and teachers and students work collaboratively to extend classroom lessons.
JHS 123 – The Bronx Urban Community Magnet School (Bronx, New York) – Awarded the Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. The Bronx Urban Community Magnet School uses science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics as a lens for experiential learning. Passionate teachers nurture students to become risk-takers, mistake-makers, team players, and trendsetters. By 9th grade, they meet five school-specific standards that reflect mastery of magnet skills including tangible technology products, independent research, and design thinking. The school is proud to boast that they disrupt inequity by empowering students to shape a changing world and serve an under-resourced and often undervalued community of immigrant and minority families. The school’s program is based on STEAM innovation where students are encouraged to be like great innovators who make products for the future and thus become advocates and change agents for their local and global communities.
James B. Sanderlin K-8 (Pinellas County, Florida) – Awarded the President’s Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Sanderlin IB is committed to teaching and learning with the brain and heart in mind. This K-8 magnet school infuses the IB “approach to learning” to move students from learning content to understanding the process of creating new knowledge. Students make real-world global connections to become socially responsible and support the UN Sustainable goals of Zero Hunger by collecting food. They learn about food sustainability by taking care of a garden on campus. In addition to implementing a standards-based conceptual academic curriculum, the school emphasizes the social and emotional growth of its students.
Sandlapper Elementary Computer Science Immersion School (Richland School District Two, South Carolina) – Awarded the New & Emerging Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence. Sandlapper is a Computer Science Immersion magnet school dedicated to growing with the community and establishing a world-class school that embraces diversity. Students are prepared to be effective collaborators, communicators, computational and creative thinkers, and problem-solvers, all with a global perspective. They are prepared for the future by integrating programming with content subjects giving them a well-rounded understanding of the use of technology to create. Students accomplish three Epic Build projects a year and develop the computer science skills necessary for future careers that require an advanced understanding of Computational Thinking.
A complete list of winners can be accessed below.
National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
There are two categories of merit awards: (1) Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools and (2) Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition. The highest ranked magnet schools in the Excellence category are eligible to receive MSA’s highest national awards listed below.
Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Award –
Thurman White Academy of the Performing Arts (TWA) is a wall to wall magnet program in Henderson, Nevada serving grades 6-8. TWA provides opportunities for students to explore their stage, find a passion and develop their talents and abilities in all areas of the arts by working with local and national/international artists in the classrooms. Students expand an appreciation of the arts by attending local performances and participating in master classes to build that real life connection from school to career. Our program consists of seven major areas of study: Orchestra, Theatre, Band, Choir, Dance, Media Arts and Visual Arts. Magnet students choose two electives within their major to enhance core curriculum where arts are infused with ELA, science, social studies, and math.
Donald R. Waldrip Award –
Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary inspires and empowers globally competent students to investigate the world, recognize and weigh perspectives, communicate ideas and take action. The Wiley community connects locally and globally through integrated units infused with the Common Core and Essential Standards, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) global competencies and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We use digital tools to enhance learning opportunities and to communicate across cultures. Students engage in a year-long study of Chinese, French, German, Japanese or Spanish. Students also select quarter-long, internationally focused electives in fine arts, movement, and 21st century skills, promoting cultural awareness and deeper connections to our world.
Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts is a nationally certified public Magnet school serving 464 students in grades K-5 while maintaining an A-rating from the Louisiana Department of Education for academic excellence. Harnessing the power of learning through the arts, students engage in an hour of arts instruction daily, which includes Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Theater, and Music from certified professional teaching artists. Weekly faculty collaborative planning and professional development provide the support needed for content and arts teachers to create and lead true arts integrated instruction throughout the year. Grade level productions and performance groups such as orchestra, dance troupe, and choir provide all students with opportunities to apply prior knowledge while further developing their skills and understanding through interdisciplinary experiential learning.
Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
The Connecticut River Academy (CTRA) is an early college public magnet high school with a sustainability theme that focuses on advanced manufacturing and environmental science. It is located on the beautiful riverfront Goodwin College campus in East Hartford, Connecticut with about half of its 481 scholars coming from the city of Hartford. There are about 70 CTRA scholars enrolled in a dual credit program at Goodwin College. In 2017 an advanced manufacturing focus was added to the sustainability theme and in December 2019 an annex will open that features high tech industry-grade manufacturing equipment for hands-on learning. A pathway for earning a 37 credit college certificate in advanced manufacturing is available to complete while attending CTRA.
President’s Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence –
Paul W. Bell Middle School is an exciting, state-of-the-art facility located in western Miami-Dade County enriching the surrounding community it serves through the development of bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural students. We are a Cambridge International magnet and our theme is Navigating Towards a Complete Education for Every Child through the implementation of four primary components of our program: Advanced Academics and Scholarship, Cultivating Art and Culture, Infusing Technology and Global Education. We strive for excellence in the development of lifelong learners and productive citizens by applying throughout both core and elective courses technologically driven instruction and project-based learning.
New and Emerging Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence –
Richard O Jacobson Technical High School at Seminole (Tech High) is Pinellas County Schools only high school dedicated to academic excellence in conjunction with technical career skills expertise. Tech High’s highly trained and dedicated staff provide students with seven different technical career program options: Building and Construction Technology; Commercial and Digital Arts; Electricity; Gaming and Simulation Programming; Marine Mechanics; Nursing; and Veterinary Science. Tech High prepares students for postsecondary and workforce success through advanced-level classes, real-world internships, a focus on soft skills, and industry certifications.
A complete list of winners can be accessed below.
National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
There are two categories of merit awards: (1) Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools and (2) Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition. The highest ranked magnet schools in the Excellence category are eligible to receive MSA’s highest national awards listed below.
Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Award – American Education Solutions, Inc.
Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC) is an “A-rated” high school built around six rigorous, career- themed academies (Cambridge, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Health Science, Information Technology, and Applied Technology). Their 1216 students enroll in the required core curricula as well as career/technical courses they select within an academy and strand. The strands create a personalized school-within-a-school learning environment for their students. Their goal is to provide students with advanced academics, literature, mathematics, science, and social science choices— while incorporating training in real-world career skills, such as dental assisting and engineering, associated with the specific objectives of each academy and strand. Upon graduation, students will earn a diploma, industry certification and college credits that will accelerate their entry into their chosen college or career path.
Dr. Donald R. Waldrip Award –
Energy Institute High School is the first of its kind in the nation! Energy IHS is a whole school S.T.E.M. magnet program where instruction is delivered completely through project based learning. They are devoted to providing unique opportunities for students through project based learning, technology integration, and authentic industry partnerships. Their energy theme exposes students to careers in the energy industry, problems the industry is working to solve, and the global soft skills students need to be successful post high school.
President’s Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence –
Davis Bilingual Magnet elementary school has proudly promoted a “Spanish Immersion” Bilingual model for more than thirty-seven years. All teachers hold a Bilingual Endorsement and participate in on-going training in culturally responsive teaching and bilingual methodology. In order to provide a broad foundation for meaningful language learning, enrichment classes are provided for students in Art, Music, Gardening and PE using Spanish as the vehicle for instruction, while offering opportunities for cultural celebrations and transdisciplinary connections. The Tucson community embraces the program as one in which cultural diversity, “familia,” traditions and language learning are celebrated.
Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
MacFarlane Park Magnet Elementary is nestled in the heart of West Tampa, located in the school district of Hillsborough County, Florida. Their 373 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, represent 34 nationalities, and are inspired to explore beyond their national borders and embrace 21st century learning. Their teachers develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who contribute positively to help shape the life of the school, community, and all of humanity. Special features of their instructional program include strings, world language, an increased focus on geography and culture, environmental issues, peace education, service and conflict resolution.
Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
The Wake STEM Early College High School is a small public school of choice; a joint project between the Wake County Public School System and North Carolina State University. The theme of the school is College and Career Readiness through a STEM lens. All high school coursework focuses around the NAE’s Grand Challenges for Engineering making each course relevant to the future of society while embedding the “4 C’s of Education”. During the third year of high school,
students begin coursework at NCSU where they are integrated into the classes with the current student body. Through consistent involvement with local business leaders students learn and demonstrate career readiness skills preparing them for future success.
New and Emerging Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence – Hogan Lovells, LLC
The theme of Reedy Creek Magnet Middle School Center for the Digital Sciences is defined by: Embedding computational thinking pedagogy into all curricular areas; offering a menu of digital sciences electives to all students, including a multi-leveled robust mechatronics program; providing technology and software in classrooms and creativity suites to support projects; and fostering unique partnerships with industry leaders that enhance student and teacher learning and engagement. This coming together of unique electives, theme-related co-curricular activities, and core classes taught through the lens of computational thinking prepares students for their futures in a digital world. Working in a digital learning environment, students learn and practice collecting data, breaking it down, analyzing it, looking for patterns, and finding creative and innovative steps to solve problems.
National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
This year, 389 magnet schools applied for national merit awards, making 2018 the most competitive year in the award program’s history. There are two categories of merit awards: (1) Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools and (2) Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition. The highest ranked magnet schools in the Excellence category are eligible to receive MSA’s highest national awards listed below.
Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Award – American Education Solutions, Inc.
East Career and Technical Academy is a Magnet Schools of America Nationally Certified Demonstration School. It is a Title I School and the only five-star high school in Nevada that serves a free and reduced lunch student population of over 60 percent. Students at East Tech enroll in one of eight themes such as construction technology, culinary arts, health information management, or marketing and hospitality. All of these programs are divided into three houses to promote a smaller learning community environment. It is part of the Clark County School District in Nevada.
Dr. Donald R. Waldrip Award –
Van Nuys High School offers three magnet programs: medical; performing arts; and science, technology, and math. Each magnet program is infused with a college preparatory core curriculum of mathematics and sciences regardless of study. The arts include a variety of creative opportunities including dance, theater, voice, music, film, and stage technology. It is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District in California.
Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
Farmington Woods Elementary embraces inquiry based learning with a focus on global understanding. It seeks to empower critical thinkers through a rigorous IB curriculum that fosters lifelong learning, international mindedness, and citizenship. It is part of the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina.
Secondary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence –
Young Women’s Preparatory Academy is the first single-gender public school in Miami. It was established in 2006 as a one-to-one technology leadership magnet school for 6-12th grade girls. The school’s leadership theme is based on Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. It is part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida.
New and Emerging Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence – Hogan Lovells, LLC
McCaw STEAM Academy engages students in the critical areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math with a focus in geological science. The goal of the school is to help students become innovators and critical thinkers while developing a growth mindset that begins with goal setting. This all takes place during an extended day that allows students to participate in Makerspace, Robotics, and Fine Art Labs as well as engage in the Design Thinking Process in its Discovery Center. It is part of the Clark County School District in Nevada.
President’s Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence –
Liberty Elementary is a STEM museum magnet school that seeks to prepare students to become problem solvers who can compete in a global society. It integrates STEM instruction and activities throughout the school day. Students at Liberty Elementary demonstrate their content knowledge by completing semester long cross-curricular STEM projects that are showcased twice yearly when the school is transformed into a museum. It is part of Broward County Public Schools in Florida.
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.
