Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Magnet schools
This article does not receive scheduled updates. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Contact our team to suggest an update.
 |
| Education policy in the U.S. |
| Public education in the U.S. |
| School choice in the U.S. |
| Charter schools in the U.S. |
| Higher education in the U.S. |
| Glossary of education terms |
| Education statistics |
|
Magnet schools, sometimes called theme-based schools, are public schools of choice that use a specialized subject area or innovative learning approach to attract students from more diverse backgrounds. Magnet schools can reach beyond the boundaries of school districts, but they are still managed and funded by local administration. This differentiates a magnet school from a charter school, as the latter is publicly funded but privately managed. Magnet schools are both funded and managed publicly, but are given the opportunity to employ specialized themes and subjects.[1][2]
In the 2012-2013 school year there were 3,151 magnet schools in the United States, up slightly from 2,949 magnet schools in the 2011-2012 school year. Florida reported having the most magnet schools in the country, with 498. In contrast, Alaska only had one magnet school, making it the state with the fewest magnet schools. A chart displaying the number of schools in the country by type for the 2011-2012 school year can be found here.[3]
Background
The first magnet school opened in 1968 with different intentions from the magnet schools of today. The first magnet school, McCarver Elementary in Tacoma, Washington, decided to open its doors to students outside of its residential district to encourage desegregation. Prior to this change, the school was 91 percent black. To avoid heightening racial tensions, the school looked for ways to draw in white students without using litigation or mandates of any kind. The school administration received a grant for $200,000 in the summer of 1968 (the equivalent of $1,364,557 in 2014) which was used in various ways to improve McCarver Elementary. By 1970 the once nearly all-black school had over 50 percent enrollment from other racial groups (primarily white). The school was filled to capacity and had a waiting list for students. This school became the first magnet school and inspired other districts to adopt similar approaches.[4]
Growth
With the positive results shown by McCarver and other schools throughout the country in terms of desegregation, magnet schools began to spread quickly during the 1980s. The federal government supported this growth through the Magnet School Assistance Program, a program that supplied grants to districts for the creation and development of magnet schools. This aid allowed magnet schools to grow in popularity and effectiveness. However, as more public schools became integrated, magnet schools became less likely to make racial diversity their primary focus. Pressure to adhere to higher education standards also pushed magnet schools to aim beyond desegregation. As a result, magnet schools began to show a decreased focus on racial diversity and a greater focus on educational goals. These goals have more recently pushed magnet schools to compete with charter schools, which grown significantly in popularity in recent years. As federal and state funding is funneled to charters, magnet school growth has slowed.[5]
Funding
Since the inception of magnet schools, the federal government has played an integral role in funding magnet schools. The chart to the right displays the total appropriations by the federal government from 2000 to 2013. There has been a notable decrease in funding for magnet schools. This was attributed to the rise in popularity, and therefore federal funding, of charter schools.[6]
The majority of a magnet school's funding comes from its local school district, just as it does for other public schools. The district and its administrators have the final say in how much funding will be funneled to magnet schools. Nationally, however, magnet schools report spending an average of $200 more per student than traditional public schools. The increased spending is needed to maintain the schools' specialized programs.[1]
Magnet schools in practice
Although there are many possible subjects and themes for magnet schools, the following are among the most common:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
- Performing or visual arts
- Vocational or career path training
- Leadership training
- College preparation[1]
No matter what the theme of the school, magnet schools are still required to meet the state-mandated standards required of all public schools. However, instructors in magnet schools typically gear their lessons toward the cultivation of skills that fit the school's theme. Magnet schools may also adopt innovative education approaches. For instance, some magnet schools use competency-based learning strategies, which use a student's personal progress to determine pacing and lesson plans. Other schools may use the Montessori approach, which takes advantage of students' own curiosity to develop student-centered learning plans.[1]
See also
- School choice information by state
- Charter schools
- Education on the ballot
- Number of schools by school type in the United States
External link
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Public School Review, "What is a magnet school?" accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ Magnet Schools of America, "What are magnet schools?" accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Selected statistics from the common core of data: School year 2011-2012," accessed December 12, 2014
- ↑ Education Next, "Magnet schools," accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ Magnet Schools of America, "The forgotten choice? Rethinking magnet schools in a changing landscape," accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 United States Department of Education, "Programs: Magnet school assistance funding status," accessed December 10, 2014
