Magnets in the News


Magnet Schools of America Recognizes 11 New Nationally Certified Schools

Magnet Schools of America (MSA) has named five new nationally certified schools and six new certified demonstration schools, bringing the total number of national certified schools across the country to 167. As leading examples of magnet school excellence, these schools provide outstanding learning opportunities for their students, and join a growing cohort of recognized magnet programs across the country.

2020 Merit Awards Recognize Our Nation’s Most Prominent Magnet Schools

For Immediate Release Washington, DC, July 1, 2020 – Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2020 national merit awards. These 137 Magnet Schools of Excellence and 247 Magnet Schools of Distinction are recognized for their commitment to high academic standards, school diversity, specialized curricula and instruction, family engagement, […]

Statement on George Floyd

I am deeply disturbed by the Minneapolis police’s murder of George Floyd. His murder – alongside that of so many other Black Americans, including most recently Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery – was senseless, and rooted in our country’s history of systemic racism and discrimination against Black people and other people of color.

COVID-19: The Impact on the Public Education System

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our public education system in ways that were unimaginable only two months ago. As most of the country shelters in place, approximately 8.5 to 12 million students lack access to the internet at home – also known as the “homework gap” – making it difficult for students to attend virtual learning sessions or complete homework assignments. This gap is especially prevalent for students of color, students living in rural communities and low-income families where access to reliable Wi-Fi or home computers is extremely limited.

Magnet Schools of America Recognizes 31 New Nationally Certified Schools

Magnet Schools of America (MSA) has named 14 new nationally certified schools and 17 new certified demonstration schools. These schools provide exemplar magnet education opportunities to their students and they bring the total number of nationally certified schools to 151.

Best Magnet High School Rankings are Released

Magnet high schools are public high schools that offer specialized courses, often designed around a theme. Any student in the designated region can attend, which causes most magnet schools to use a lottery system to accept applicants. Some magnet schools use an application process that involves test scores and GPAs. The following are the nation's best magnet schools, as calculated by U.S. News.

Magnet vs. Charter Schools: Differences Explained

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 Magnets Receive U.S. ED Green Ribbon School Awards

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.

House Appropriations Approves $18 Million Increase for Magnet Schools Assistance Program

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 Announces 2019 National Award Winners

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.


Learn how to become a Nationally Certified Magnet School

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.

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