 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
School shopping
By DONNA WINCHESTER, Times Staff Writer Parents who want to learn about magnet programs, fundamental schools and high school career academies can find out everything they need to know Saturday at Pinellas County Schools' magnet and high school showcase. The district's 15 magnets, seven fundamentals and four career academies, all countywide programs, will be featured at the 10th annual event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crossroads Mall. Charter schools also will be included this year, along with the district's 16 traditional high school programs, which will be part of one countywide attendance area next year under the "controlled choice" plan. Additionally, volunteers from the Family Education and Information Centers will be available to help parents complete magnet and fundamental school applications, declarations of intent and choice forms. But the burning question -- What are my child's chances of getting accepted into a magnet or fundamental program? -- will go unanswered, administrators caution. Program capacities will be about the same as last year (see statistics box), but schools won't know how many openings they have until after the Oct. 15 application deadline. That is when they will learn how many children who currently fill seats will exercise their options to keep them. Applicants will find out whether they have been accepted or placed on a waiting list by Nov. 10. They must accept their invitation or waiting list position by Nov. 20. Andrea Zahn, marketing director for the choice plan, calls the showcase "a one-stop shopping opportunity for parents," especially for those with incoming high school students. She hopes parents will take advantage of the chance to meet with Family Education and Information Center volunteers whether they are interested in magnet programs and fundamental schools or they just want to learn more about attendance area schools. "It's all about giving parents multiple options," she said. "The big part of having so many options is that you need to be informed." Between 8,000 and 10,000 people came to the showcase last year, making it the district's largest attended event, said Christine Lowry, supervisor of magnet and fundamental school programs. With the application deadline looming, she expects even more participation this year. "There's more of an awareness now," she said. "I think families are doing a lot more homework than they used to. This is one more chance for them to find out what opportunities are available for them." Despite the popularity of magnet and fundamental school programs, they will have competition this year, Lowry said. Many attendance area schools have beefed up their programs in an attempt to lure students, with some even creating programs similar to magnet schools. "Many of the area schools have looked at the 400 to 500 kids signed up on the waiting list for Perkins and have created attractors similar to its magnet program. It would be foolish of them to not do that," she said. "We're not upset that somebody's going to create an arts and music program in their area school. We're not looking for 400 kids to be on a waiting list." She suggests that parents considering a magnet program, fundamental school or career academy also fill out declarations of intent or choice applications so they will have back-up plans if their children are placed on waiting lists. She encourages all parents to come to the showcase, even those who doubt their children's chances of securing spots in specialized programs. "If you don't apply, you won't get in," she said. "The only thing you have to lose is the little bit of time it takes to fill out the application." If you goThe magnet and high school showcase will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Crossroads Mall (formerly Bay Area Outlet Mall), 15579 U.S. 19 N. Parents new to the district -- including those with incoming kindergarteners, private school students or home-schooled students who wish to complete choice applications -- should bring proof of residence, such as utility bills, and their children's most recent report cards. Incoming kindergarteners must have original birth certificates. Last year's magnet and fundamental school statisticsElementary school magnet and fundamental schools: Black students: 661 applications for 272 openings Nonblack students: 2,481 applications for 774 openings Middle school magnet and fundamental schools: Black students: 281 applications for 195 openings Nonblack students: 1,526 applications for 882 openings High school magnet schools: Black students: 445 applications for 263 openings Nonblack students: 3,579 applications for 1,286 openings -- Information was obtained from Times files. Magnet and fundamental schools timeline1976 Curtis Elementary School becomes Curtis Fundamental School 1978 Childs Park Elementary School becomes Childs Park Fundamental School 1980 Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary and Southside Fundamental Middle schools open 1984 Program for the Academically Talented at St. Petersburg High School (now International Baccalaureate Program at St. Petersburg High) and Program for the Artistically Talented at Gibbs High School (now Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High) open 1985 Lakeview Fundamental School opens 1990 Center for Advanced Technologies at Lakewood High School opens; Early Graduation Option is established at Boca Ciega High School 1993 Center for the Arts and Communication Studies at 16th Street Middle School, Center for the Arts and International Studies at Perkins Elementary School, Center for Advancement of the Sciences and Technology at Bay Point Elementary School and Middle School open 1994 Center for Gifted Studies at Ridgecrest Elementary School, Center for Wellness and Medical Professions at Boca Ciega High School, 21st Century Learning Center and Teaching Arts Academy at Largo High School and Criminal Justice Academy at Pinellas Park High School open 1995 Childs Park Fundamental School is relocated and becomes Pasadena Fundamental School 1996 Coachman Fundamental Middle School opens; Early Graduation Option moves from Boca Ciega High School to Osceola High School; International Baccalaureate Program and Center for Wellness and Medical Professions at Palm Harbor University High School open 1997 Bay Vista Fundamental School opens 1998 Center for the Arts and Communication Studies moves to John Hopkins Middle School, built on the site of 16th Street Middle School; Center for Communication and Mass Media at Melrose Elementary School and Business Education and Technology Academy at Gibbs High School open -- Information was obtained from Pinellas County Schools' Web site.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
