One of the key missions of Magnet Schools of America is to raise public awareness of the benefits and accomplishments of magnet schools. Our organization proactively engages major media outlets to share this good news. Below are examples of this work.
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.
East Career and Technical Academy received the top merit award this year from Magnet Schools of America - the No. 1 honor among the association's many awards. At East, students can choose from eight programs of study ranging from early childhood education to mechanical technology. The students know they're in a special place. "I feel like with them expecting a lot from us, it kind of pushes us toward better," said marketing program junior Aurora Osuna.
New London is the state's only full magnet district. Parents and students can choose themes like STEM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics, language and culture. Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School is project-based learning. For one project, students worked on an opera, where kids wrote, produced, acted, sang and did everything in between!
Last week we were thrilled to see how many magnet schools were among the top schools across the country in the U.S. News and World Report Best High School rankings. If you looked at their rankings of magnets, though, you may have seen that the magazine used a narrow definition for magnet schools, focusing on selective admissions criteria rather than specialized theme-based curriculum and instruction.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is proud to announce that six magnet schools have been ranked within the top 20 Best High Schools in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to this tremendous accomplishment, magnet schools also make up one quarter of the top 100 high schools that were ranked this year.
"The research shows that it leads to better cognitive function for kids so they're going to have better results, academically," Kamin said. "It's also going to help with behavioral issues in the classroom, because if kids are able to move, they're not going to have so much excess energy. They're going to be able to focus, and it's going to solve a lot of the sort of interpersonal issues that come up with kids as well, because they're going to have an opportunity to get that energy out."
Sitting in the back of the classroom, Hermes Velasquez was a quiet student. He had stage fright and was embarrassed to stand up in front of other students at an award-winning magnet school for the performing arts south of Miami. But slowly, with the help of his teacher, Adalberto Acevedo, and the school's family-like culture, Velasquez overcame his stage fright. To get over his fear, he familiarized himself with the stage by helping to put props out. Then he started acting in supporting roles.
A Wake County school and one of the district's teachers have been named the best in the United States by the nation's leading magnet school organization. Farmington Woods Elementary School in Cary received Magnet School of America's Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award, given annually to the nation's top elementary magnet school. The organization also named April Guenzler, a kindergarten teacher at Brooks Elementary School in Raleigh, as its 2018 National Teacher of the Year.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA), announced the recipients of its 2018 national awards in Chicago, IL during the 36th National Conference on Magnet Schools (April 25-29, 2018), hosted by Chicago Public Schools.
