East magnet school elicits little interest

[warriorpride]

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/818754,2_1_AU29_MAGNET_S1.article

East magnet school elicits little interest

February 29, 2008
Heather Gillers [e-mail]
AURORA -- East Aurora school administrators will downsize a planned magnet school program after receiving only 78 applications for 150 spots.

"We thought we would get more applicants ...," said Christie Aird, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education. "Probably a lot of parents have not gotten wind of this."

The district hopes to determine by next week how many of the 78 applicants to admit. High-scoring students going into fifth eighth and ninth grades are eligible for the program, which will pilot a science, math and technology curriculum.

The district is considering reducing the number of classes planned for each age group from two to one, Aird said, but the program will go forward "for sure, no question" in the 2008-09 school year.

About 100 students and family members attended an open house earlier this month to learn about the magnet school and pick up applications.

Mary and Mike Gerhard attended the event with their twin sons, but the two eighth-graders ultimately decided against applying to the program.

"I know hands-on experience is good," Mary Gerhard said, referring to the school's intended emphasis on science projects and experiments. "I just thought honors classes probably would be the better option for them."

Other parents may have determined that they would not be able to transport their son or daughter to the school buildings where the programs will be housed. Still others, Aird hypothesized, may not have gotten the word in time. A few applications came in after the Feb. 14 deadline.

The district received 34 applications for the fifth-grade level, 26 for the eighth-grade level and 18 for the ninth-grade level.

Administrators hope to add other age groups in the coming years and eventually move the magnet school program from existing buildings to a freestanding school. They say the program will require no initial investment of funds by the cash-strapped district.

District Superintendent Jerome Roberts said he expects applications to "skyrocket" after students and parents see the program fall into place next year.

"Every journey starts with a single step," Roberts said

[sleeplessinnpvl]

warriorpride said:

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/818754,2_1_AU29_MAGNET_S1.article

East magnet school elicits little interest

February 29, 2008
Heather Gillers [e-mail]
AURORA -- East Aurora school administrators will downsize a planned magnet school program after receiving only 78 applications for 150 spots.

"We thought we would get more applicants ...," said Christie Aird, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education. "Probably a lot of parents have not gotten wind of this."

The district hopes to determine by next week how many of the 78 applicants to admit. High-scoring students going into fifth eighth and ninth grades are eligible for the program, which will pilot a science, math and technology curriculum.

The district is considering reducing the number of classes planned for each age group from two to one, Aird said, but the program will go forward "for sure, no question" in the 2008-09 school year.

About 100 students and family members attended an open house earlier this month to learn about the magnet school and pick up applications.

Mary and Mike Gerhard attended the event with their twin sons, but the two eighth-graders ultimately decided against applying to the program.

"I know hands-on experience is good," Mary Gerhard said, referring to the school's intended emphasis on science projects and experiments. "I just thought honors classes probably would be the better option for them."

Other parents may have determined that they would not be able to transport their son or daughter to the school buildings where the programs will be housed. Still others, Aird hypothesized, may not have gotten the word in time. A few applications came in after the Feb. 14 deadline.

The district received 34 applications for the fifth-grade level, 26 for the eighth-grade level and 18 for the ninth-grade level.

Administrators hope to add other age groups in the coming years and eventually move the magnet school program from existing buildings to a freestanding school. They say the program will require no initial investment of funds by the cash-strapped district.

District Superintendent Jerome Roberts said he expects applications to "skyrocket" after students and parents see the program fall into place next year.

"Every journey starts with a single step," Roberts said

I admit I know nothing about magnet schools. I do remember people were bringing them up as an alternative for our 3rd high school. What did the SB ever say about that?

[warriorpride]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

I admit I know nothing about magnet schools. I do remember people were bringing them up as an alternative for our 3rd high school. What did the SB ever say about that?

Here's a decent overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet_school

Magnet schools are typically more academic-focused or vocational-focused. The thought was that a 204 magnet school could be smaller, with limited, or no athletic facilities, thus reducing the cost. I can't recall the details, but I think the Citizen's Advisory Committee didn't want to assume/guess how many families would be interested in this, and since it's typically voluntary (with certain trade-offs), I don't think they wanted to bank on 30% of the HS population being interested in this every year. Disclaimer, I was not on the Citizen's Advisory Committee, so I'm wrong here, I apologize.

I can't recall if people proposing the magnet school were also proposing adding on to WV and/or NV to increase "general" HS capacity.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

warriorpride said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

I admit I know nothing about magnet schools. I do remember people were bringing them up as an alternative for our 3rd high school. What did the SB ever say about that?

Here's a decent overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet_school

Magnet schools are typically more academic-focused or vocational-focused. The thought was that a 204 magnet school could be smaller, with limited, or no athletic facilities, thus reducing the cost. I can't recall the details, but I think the Citizen's Advisory Committee didn't want to assume/guess how many families would be interested in this, and since it's typically voluntary (with certain trade-offs), I don't think they wanted to bank on 30% of the HS population being interested in this every year. Disclaimer, I was not on the Citizen's Advisory Committee, so I'm wrong here, I apologize.

I can't recall if people proposing the magnet school were also proposing adding on to WV and/or NV to increase "general" HS capacity.

Thanks for the update. I can see why people so love their schools around here that they might not want to voluntarily go to another one. I really want the new school to go through but I can't help feeling the need to explore a "plan C" as I lay awake at night. I wish we had some more information from the SB as to how things are progressing.

[Arwen]

Magnet schools tend to be really popular when they are the one good school in a rather sub-standard school district. This is certainly true in both Chicago and Joliet. It seems like either a fine arts school or a science/math focused school would have been able to attract a big enough student body here though. It is too bad that our options were restricted to full high school or split shifts. Some other options may have turned into another jewel in 204's crown vs. the divisiveness we have now.

[gatormom]

As a rule, I am not fond of the concept of magnet schools. For those districts stuggling, money and resources are being poured into the best and brightest while the troubled schools are not having the core issues dealt with. That is only my opinion.

I wonder what a magnet school in a successful district would be like. Would it create more division, those who can get in versus those who cannot; or would it have been an asset to overcome what we are going through now?

We do have the Frontier campus and while not a magnet school, it certainly offers a unique opportunity for those who participate in it.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

gatormom said:

As a rule, I am not fond of the concept of magnet schools. For those districts stuggling, money and resources are being poured into the best and brightest while the troubled schools are not having the core issues dealt with. That is only my opinion.

I wonder what a magnet school in a successful district would be like. Would it create more division, those who can get in versus those who cannot; or would it have been an asset to overcome what we are going through now?

We do have the Frontier campus and while not a magnet school, it certainly offers a unique opportunity for those who participate in it.

Good point, gatormom. I guess we will never know how it would be perceived.

[chicoryowl]

I too am not a big fan of magnet schools. At least from the standpoint of an academic focused institution in this district. I feel it could be a drain on the other schools of resources and some of the best students.

Schools will naturally segregate some of their best students based on their classload. However, I wouldn't want them to completely segregate them into a different school.

[gandalf]

chicoryowl said:

I too am not a big fan of magnet schools. At least from the standpoint of an academic focused institution in this district. I feel it could be a drain on the other schools of resources and some of the best students.

Schools will naturally segregate some of their best students based on their classload. However, I wouldn't want them to completely segregate them into a different school.

Some of those top students are being lost already today, to places like the Math & Science Academy and even schools like Benet Academy & St. Francis. In order to open a magnet school here I would think they'd need to be able to count on some of those kids returning each year as well. Unlike in the city where magnets schools may be viewed as safe havens of learning - all the schools out here provide excellent educations as well.

A fine arts school is an interesting concept though, not sure if that has been attempted anywhere.