6 Traits That Make A Magnet School A Magnet School

There are over 4,000 public magnet schools across all 50 states that offer students rigorous instruction. Several characteristics differentiate public magnet schools from traditional public schools and public charter schools. Public magnet schools excel at...

Focusing On A Specific Curriculum

While educating students across all subjects, magnet schools emphasize certain curricular areas. Most commonly, they focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Performing Arts and International Baccalaureate programs. If your son or daughter is the next Meryl Streep or Stephen Hawking, a magnet school might be for them.

Hiring Specialized Teachers

Because magnet schools offer specialized, emphasized courses in a certain field or fields, they hire specialized, first-class educators, like April Giddens (above), a language arts teacher from Louisiana's Natchitoches Magnet School who won Louisiana's Teacher Of The Year Award.

Closing The Achievement Gap

Magnet schools also play a pivotal role in shrinking the achievement gap. According to Magnet Schools of America, 83% of magnet schools achieve excellence in reading and 84% achieve excellence in math. Educating at this proficiency level means that a staggering 95% of magnet schools work to reduce the achievement gap.

Engaging Parents

When parents see their children excelling in a specific field they get excited and become more involved in their child's education. According to MSA, parent engagement is 52% higher in magnet schools than in other schools. Other parents might be taking note; more than 70% of these public magnet schools have waiting lists.

Engaging Students

Parents aren't the only ones engaged and satisfied at magnet schools. Students are happy, too, because they're challenged in subjects that they've chosen to pursue. Like Jesse Pinkman said all along, magnets work, yo.

Admitting Students Fairly

91% of public magnet schools accept students via a random lottery. And if you don't think these lotteries change lives, just take a look at the expression on the face of Alexis Osifo (above) when she was the last person selected to attend Ivy Preparatory Academy