What is a Magnet school?

Magnet schools are public schools that offer a thematic approach to teaching and learning that is designed to attract a diverse student population. The Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) was established to help school districts increase diversity in elementary or secondary schools through unique educational programming designed to attract families to make an active choice to enroll their children. Magnet programs support and supplement the curriculum by providing a common lens through which children master knowledge.

 

What’s the advantage of being a Magnet school?

One of the main advantages of being on the receiving end of a magnet grant is the ability to support teaching and learning in Magnet schools through a significant infusion of funds.  Many schools invest in technology and much needed materials and supplies in specialized content areas such as science labs, fine arts materials, etc.  The Magnet program has hired Magnet Resource Teachers for each of the magnet schools funded over the past 18 years who work as school-based curriculum integration specialists and who plan professional development opportunities for staff, who receive the contract hourly rate to participate on a voluntary basis.  Magnet funds have been used to support theme-based before and/or after school or summer programs, to send staff to conferences and observe other schools with similar themes, to bring in specialists/consultants to help lift the magnet theme.

 

How do I enroll my child in a Magnet School?  Are there admissions requirements?

There are no admissions requirements for students to enroll in any of our Magnet Schools, other than they be an active student in the Springfield Public Schools (visit:  www.SpringfieldPublicSchools.com/departments/PACE for more information on what is needed for registering for SPS).  If your child is currently enrolled in SPS and has a Student ID number, you may sign up for a Magnet School during the designated enrollment periods (see below for more information).  During these enrollment periods, parents may go to the main webpage of the Springfield Public Schools (www.SpringfieldPublicSchools.com) to cast their “Magnet Ballot.”

 

How do I cast a Magnet Ballot?

Students wishing to select a Magnet school may make a selection during the Magnet Balloting Period (December through the second week in January of each year)  do so online.  Parents/guardians are first required to certify they are authorized to make the selection for the student; next you will be asked to enter your child’s Student ID number and Date of Birth (DOB).

A Drop Down menu will appear based on the grade your child is in (Elementary or Middle) and you will be able to make up to 3 selections for Elementary School (Gerena, Kensington, or Zanetti) and 5 selections for Middle School (Chestnut, Duggan, Renaissance, STEM Middle Academy or the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts).

Important Note:
If you have any questions about which school to select first, please seek out the answers to your questions first and go back and finalize your selection before the last day of the Magnet Balloting period. You should be very certain of your choices since you will NOT have an opportunity to change them after you complete the ballot. 

 

Who is eligible to cast a Magnet Ballot?

Students must have an SPS Student ID number and be “active” in the database.  Students not currently enrolled in SPS must do so first at the Student Assignment Services office at the Parent and community Engagement (PACE) Center, located at 91 School Street in Springfield and obtain a Student ID number.  This number is your ticket in!

 

Where do I go to cast a Magnet Ballot?

Signing up for a Magnet School takes place online during the Magnet Enrollment Period (December through the second week in January of each year). You may sign up anytime from any computer anywhere during that time frame.

 

What happens after I cast my Magnet Ballot?

After you complete your ballot you will be provided with a confirmation number;  we recommend that you print out and keep this number in a safe place since it is your assurance that you have completed a ballot during the Magnet Ballot Period.

Your Magnet Ballot will be saved on a SPS “server” and retained until the end of the Magnet Ballot Period.  At that time, all Ballots will be entered into the randomized computer lottery.  As each ballot is uploaded from the server it is provided with a random number.  The computer is programmed to sort the ballots based on school, your selection number (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd choice, etc.) and the number of available seats.

Example:
If you have selected 3 schools (Duggan, STEM Middle and Renaissance) the computer will scan your ballot, see that you have selected Duggan as your first choice and if there are seats available at your first choice school (Duggan in this instance) your child will be assigned there.  The computer will then scan for the next ballot in which Duggan is the first choice, and assign that student there and so on until all of the available seats at Duggan are filled.

 

What if my child does not get his/her first choice?

Once the computer has gone through all of the 1^st choice selections and made assignments based on the number of seats available at each grade in that school, the remainder of the students who applied for that school but did not receive it (meaning there were more students wanting to go there than there are seats available), students will automatically be placed on the waiting list for his/her 1^st choice school only.

The computer will then go back and look at all of the 2^nd choice selections for each school and grade and fill those seats if any remain open after going through the 1^st choice selections.

Example:
You selected Duggan as your 1^st choice.  Duggan only had 25 seats available and it was able to fill all of its available seats based on the number of parents who selected the school as their first choice. No more seats remain at Duggan, which means that anyone who selected the school as their 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, etc. choice will not be able to get in, nor will they automatically be placed on the waiting list. Your child’s ballot (based on random number assigned by the computer) was number 28 for Duggan, therefore your child will be number 3 on the waiting list for Duggan.

Your second choice was STEM Middle, which has 30 openings (for example).  During the 1^st round of assignments, 26 parents selected STEM Middle as their first choice and all of those students were assigned to the school and there are 4 seats remaining (at your child’s grade level). The computer uses the same process as in the first round of assignments – checking the number of seats at each grade and filling in based on how many students selected STEM Middle as their 2^nd choice.  Your child’s random-numbered ballot was the 3^rd received for STEM Middle and since there were 4 seats available, he or she will be assigned to the school.

This process continues until all of the seats are filled at each Magnet school.

 

I made 4 selections and didn’t get any of my choices.  How did that happen?

As you can see in the examples above, students are placed based on their preference (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd choice, etc.) and the number of available seats at any grade level.  If there are fewer 1^st choice applicants choosing a particular school than seats available, everyone is assigned there, meaning if there are 30 seats and 26 apply, they all get in and there is no need to run a lottery.  When there are more applicants than seats available, the lottery kicks in.

Many schools fill up on the first assignment round, which may mean that many parents selected a school as their 1^st choice first that you put as your 2^nd choice school.  If the seats are already filled by the time the computer makes its assignments for 2^nd choice selections there are no longer seats available, so your 2^nd choice will not be honored.

In some cases there may be seats available at a school you selected as your 3^rd choice (meaning that not all of the seats were filled in assignment rounds 1 and 2) so your child could be assigned to that school, however the lower the preference for a particular school (3^rd, 4^th choice, etc.) the less likely it is that there are unfilled seats. In most cases the available seats are filled during the first two assignment rounds. For this reason it is essential that you know from the outset which school(s) you are interested in applying for since the chances are they will be filled in the first two assignment rounds.

 

Is the number of seats the only factor that determines if a student is assigned to one of his/her schools of choice?

No. There are other considerations that can impact a student’s assignment, for example if your child needs particular educational services (Special Education services that are available only in select schools, a language program that is only offered in a few schools, etc.) he or she may be assigned to a different school than the schools you selected.  These assignments are made by the appropriate departments within SPS after careful review and consideration of what services will best meet your child’s needs.

 

When will I hear if my child got into the Magnet school I want?

After the lottery process is completed and the assignments noted above are completed, families will be notified in writing by the last week in March.

Important Note:
Since student assignment letters are mailed to your home of record, please make sure that the Student Assignment Services office at the PACE Center has your up-to-date address.  This will avoid confusion at the beginning of the school year.

 

I went through the Magnet Ballot process but changed my mind and want to switch my choices.  Can I do that?

Unfortunately, no.  Once a ballot has been cast the computer program will not allow you to enter another ballot for that student.  This is the reason we urge parents to get as much information as possible about the schools you are interested in having your child attend before you make your selections.  Information is available online in the Magnet and High Schools of Choice Books (go to www.springfieldpublicschools.com/departments/magnet) or on the websites of individual schools.  You may also want to call the schools you are interested in and make arrangements to tour the school to get a feel for the learning environment and determine which school offers the best match for your child.

 

Additional information on Magnet Schools is available by calling Kathe Harbour at 413-787-7478 or by calling Magnet Program Director, Josh Bogin at 413-787-7752.