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Leaving a zoned school? Do your homeworkBy SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA © St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000 For parents who have carefully looked at their children's zoned elementary schools and feel they want something different, a crucial question arises. What to do now? Take heart. Many choices are available. Five fundamental schools stress "back to basics." Four magnet schools specialize in the arts, communication and mass media, the sciences and technology, or studies for gifted children. Three specialized charter schools operate like private schools but are still affiliated with the public school system. Five "partnership" schools allow a child to attend school at a parent's place of work. There are 91 private elementary schools (secular or religious). Or, you can school your child at home. This year, of the 51,340 students in elementary schools, 2,191 attend magnet programs and 2,016 go to fundamental schools. Parents who hope their children can attend a magnet or fundamental school must complete an application by Dec. 1. It is typically much harder to get your child into an elementary school magnet or fundamental program if he or she is already attending a zoned school, because children tend to remain in the program once enrolled. Elementary magnet and fundamental schools are "open enrollment" programs and have no requirements beyond interest and, for those in the fundamental schools, a commitment from parents and students to the program's strict standards. Magnet and fundamental school applications are available at your local elementary school and at the program schools. The application must be mailed or hand-delivered to the desired school by Dec. 1 for children who want to attend the school beginning next fall. If too many children seek admission to a particular program, a computerized lottery is triggered. Children are assigned random numbers and those not accepted are placed on waiting lists. This year, there were 1,070 children on the elementary fundamental school waiting list and 1,371 children waiting to get into elementary magnet programs. The school district allows parents to apply for more than one magnet or fundamental program. Parents will be mailed notification of acceptance, placement on a waiting list, or ineligibility by Feb. 1. You must let the school district know by March 1 whether your child will attend the magnet or fundamental program, or whether you are willing to be placed on the waiting list. Space often opens up after the start of school as parents of accepted students change their minds, move out of the district, or find that the program was not what they expected. Enrollment in both programs is governed by court-ordered racial balance ratios. Priority placement in the lottery is given siblings of children already enrolled in magnet and fundamental schools. If you are not successful in getting your child into a magnet or fundamental program, you can reapply the following year. If your child is accepted and completes the program, the school district allows automatic placement at a similar middle school magnet program.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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