What's the Attraction of Magnet Schools?

A couple years ago, the school district where my dad teaches (Michigan City Area Schools, Michigan City, Indiana) hired a new superintendent.  The superintendent came from Chicago Public Schools with lots of vision and a track record to back it up.  She vowed to get the school district back on the right path.  I'm a firm believer in giving people the benefit of the doubt and I was interested to see what her plans entailed.  After all, the school corporation had been in decline for years and it seemed that they were behind the learning curve, so any change would surely be a positive one, right? 

 

Students at Lake Hills STEM Magnet  (Courtesy of Betsy Kohn, Director of Communications for Michigan City Area Schools)

Enter the Magnet School
I first read about the superintendent's initiative to start two magnet schools at the elementary level.  One was going to be the newly constructed elementary school and the other was at a traditionally mid range socioeconomic school.  There was going to be a STEM magnet school and a visual and performing arts school.  As I read the articles, I admit that I was biased and thought that the magnet schools would further separate the 'haves' from the 'have nots'.  I assumed that they would only be for accelerated students or those already in attendance at those schools.  Ignorance on my part was rampant. 

Magnet schools are not necessarily separate schools like I initially thought.  They frequently operate as schools-within-schools, which is what's happening in Michigan City.  Typically, the only entrance criteria is an interest in the school's theme, like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) or visual and performing arts.  In Michigan City (MCAS), the schools chosen to be magnet schools had lower enrollments and were seen as underutilized.  Traditional subjects are still taught with the same focus given to core subjects like reading and math, but the focus area allows students to engage in centralized themes in which they have expressed an interest.  At Pine and Lake Hills Magnet Elementary Schools, extended opportunities for after school clubs, field trips, and summer school activities are available.

   


Students at Pine Magnet Elementary School (Courtesy of Betsy Kohn, Director of Communications for Michigan City Area Schools)



Why Magnet Schools?
There are many benefits to choosing a magnet school for elementary children.  Magnet schools are often made up of more diverse populations because students attend according to interest not residence.  Students are also able to explore their interests at an earlier age.  While there is much research on magnet school students' achievement and performance at the secondary level, little research is available about elementary magnets especially as they relate to non-academically gifted students.  According to a study comparing different types of magnet and non-magnet elementary schools in Wake County, North Carolina, students achievement was nearly identical after adjusting for socioeconomic and racial factors.  However, students at magnet schools tended to have a higher growth expectancy long term.  Chicago Public Schools, which offers a wide array of magnet schools, shows similar scores comparing magnets to non-magnets.  While student performance is consistent regardless of school, students have the opportunity to further study themes that are of interest to them or in areas in which they already excel.  Student attitudes and motivation would likely be higher in magnet schools because students have already expressed an interest in the content area. 

Increased Attraction
The two magnet elementary schools in Michigan City, which began enrolling students for the 2011-2012 school year, have paved the way for a magnet middle school beginning during the 2013-2014 school year.  Clearly something is working if MCAS is expanding its magnet offerings.  Lake Hills STEM Magnet Elementary School is one of roughly fifty schools in the country to pilot a new STEM program through Project Lead the Way.  While a magnet school might not provide a program guaranteed to significantly raise student achievement, they do guarantee to provide an educational experience based on a specific theme.  If a child enjoys those activities or subjects, it makes sense to look into a magnet school.  It's the simple laws of attraction.