Charter and magnet schools are well represented in the top tier of the U.S. News Best High Schools rankings. Both models – when compared with the long history of traditional public schools – are relatively new. Magnet schools came into existence in the late 1960s as districts looked to encourage voluntary desegregation by attracting diverse groups to enroll around specific academic specialties. Charter schools followed in the early 1990s, with the stated goal to be more flexible and innovative than traditional counterparts.
Three magnet schools received a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School recognition: Eagle Rock Elementary School, Los Angeles, California; Marine and Science Technology Academy (MAST) Academy in Miami, Florida; and Dutch Fork Elementary School, Irmo, South Carolina.
The House Committee on Appropriations voted yesterday to approve a $18 million increase in funding for the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP), raising the federal funding level to $125 million for FY20. This increase was included in the appropriations package for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies (LHHS), and follows months of congressional outreach by Magnet Schools of America on behalf of its vast membership of magnet schools.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) announced its 2019 awards recipients during the 37th National Conference on Magnet Schools in Baltimore, Maryland on April 11 hosted by Baltimore County Public Schools. The conference brought together 1,200 magnet leaders and educators to celebrate top-performing schools and learn best practices on curriculum, leadership and school design.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2019 national merit awards. These 106 Magnet Schools of Excellence and 180 Magnet Schools of Distinction located in 20 states are recognized for their commitment to high academic standards, school diversity, specialized curricula and instruction, family engagement, and community partnerships. This year, 395 magnet schools applied for national merit awards, making 2019 the most competitive year in the award program’s history.
With outstanding academic performance and a focus on curiosity and innovation, Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts & Science (GHESAS) is one of the best magnet schools in the country. Glacier Hills uses science and mathematics, technology and multimedia arts to create the collaborative atmosphere essential to cultivating deeper learning experiences for its students. At GHESAS, students are prompted to ask questions and take risks through its inquiry approach, which encourages students to engage through application. As one of Magnet Schools of America’s 18 national demonstration schools, this Eagan, Minnesota magnet school embraces the core missions of diversity and inclusion to prepare its young students to thrive in a global society.
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.
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.
