Going outside the zone? Know the rules

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000

This year, almost 13 percent of all public high school students are enrolled in magnet programs (4,263 out of 33,150 high school students). Last year (the most recent statistics available), more than 3,000 students attended private high schools, while a small number of high school students (480) were home-schooled.

High school magnet or career academy programs focus on preparing students for careers or higher education in the arts, technology, criminology, health care, teaching, business, agricultural science, architecture, graphic arts or commercial transportation. Two high schools offer international baccalaureate programs for college-bound students. There is no fundamental program at the high school level.

Admission requirements differ greatly from program to program, with most programs heavily stressing prior school performance, test scores, activity portfolios and commitment demonstrated through personal interviews and written essays. High schools have no automatic admission policy for middle school magnet graduates or siblings of magnet students.

If there are more qualified students seeking admission to a high school magnet than there are spaces available, a computerized lottery is triggered.

The high school lottery works much the same as lotteries for magnet and fundamental in elementary and middle schools. Students are assigned random numbers and those not at the top of the list are placed on waiting lists. This year, two high school programs had substantial waiting lists: the international baccalaureate (120) and health care (375) magnets, both at Palm Harbor University High School.

Students who are placed on waiting lists should not despair, however. Space often opens up after the start of school as accepted students change their minds, move out of the district or find the program was not what they expected. However, few students enroll in high school magnets or career academies after the ninth grade because of the sequential and rigorous nature of the programs.

Enrollment applications for high school magnet and career academy programs are available at your local middle school and must be mailed or hand-delivered to the desired magnet or academy school by Dec. 1. The school district allows students to apply for more than one magnet program. A mailed notification of acceptance, placement on a waiting list, or notice of ineligibility will be sent to students on Feb. 1. Students must let the school district know by March 1 either whether or not they will attend the program or accept assignment to the waiting list.

The school district provides arterial bus transportation for all students enrolled in high school magnet and career academy programs. Transportation is not provided to students who have special attendance permits to attend a non-zoned school.

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