CHANGES APPROVED TO MAGNET SCHOOLS APPLICATION/SELECTION PROCESS

19 Dec 2003

DALLAS–The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees at their December 18 meeting recommended a new admission criteria for students interested in attending a magnet school program in the fall.

Under the plan, applicants must meet a criteria that takes into consideration the student’s norm reference test percentile for reading and math, grade point average and an assessment keyed to the student’s particular school of interest, such as an interview, essay or audition.

" We feel that for this selection process to be successful, it needed to build on the strengths of the original magnet selection methods while at the same time incorporating new aspects to ensure program quality and student diversity," said Superintendent Mike Moses.

Magnet schools, with a total of 10,000 students districtwide, include elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the district. The schools provide career-oriented or a special interest curriculum in addition to a complete academic program.

Under the new guidelines, 30 percent of the seats will be awarded districtwide by rank ordering applicants based on overall criteria score; 70 percent of the seats awarded within area superintendent’s geographic areas (adjusted proportionally for student population) by rank ordering applicants based on overall criteria score.

In addition, the Talented and Gifted High School magnet admission criteria will require a grade point average of 85 and an standardized test score of 85 percentile in reading and math. The School of Science and Engineering will require a GPA of 80 and a standardized test score of 78 in reading and of 80 in math; K.B. Polk Talented and Gifted Vanguard, W. B. Travis Talented and Gifted Vanguard; Travis Talented and Gifted Academy and Spence Talented and Gifted Academy will require a GPA of 80 and 80 percentile in reading and math on standardized test scores.

Also, the following rules will apply:

• Students currently enrolled in the talented and gifted vanguard and academy programs will continue at those schools subject to the rules under which they were admitted; students new to these programs must re-apply to the middle school talented and gifted programs at Travis and/or Spence.
• The sibling rule (which allows for the enrollment of a student’s qualified brother or sister on
  the same campus) will be applied to the 4 through 6 grade vanguard programs and the Pre-K-6 Montessori program.
• Students who do not meet acceptable criteria for performance will be subject to dismissal from the magnet program.

The next step for students interested in the program is to attend a Magnet School Fair January 24 at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, 1201 East Eighth St. Applications will be distributed and personnel will be on hand to answer questions. Completed applications will be accepted at the vanguards, academies and magnets starting February 2. The last day to submit applications for the 2004- 2005 school year is February 20.

In addition, each magnet school will host an open house at 6 p.m.

Jan. 12
W. B. Travis Vanguard Academy

Jan. 13
Skyline Career Development Center
Spence Talented and Gifted Academy
K. B. Polk Talented and Gifted Academy

Jan. 15
Dallas Environmental Science Academy
Mark Twain Leadership Vanguard
Yvonne Ewell Townview Center (Business and Management,
Science and Engineering, Talented and Gifted, Health Professions,
Education and Social Services, Law Magnet)

Jan. 21
Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet

Jan. 22
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Jan. 27
Henry Longfellow Academy
Maynard Jackson Vanguard

Jan. 29
W. H. Atwell Law Academy
W. E. Greiner Academy

Feb. 3
Harry Stone Montessori

Feb. 5
George B. Dealey Montessori
Sidney Lanier Vanguard

Feb. 19
O. W. Holmes Academy