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Magnets emphasize more than academics
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA © St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000 Magnet schools offer the same educational opportunities as zoned schools and quite a bit more. Extra emphasis is placed on such interest areas as art, music, science or technology. Students spend roughly half their school day on traditional academics and the remaining half day in classes relating to the magnet program. Two distinct magnet programs are available for middle school students: the Center for the Arts and Communications Studies at John Hopkins Middle School and the Center for Advancement of the Sciences and Technology at Bay Point Middle School. Arterial school bus transportation is provided by the school district. Hopkins is the county's first total middle school magnet program and is supported by a $5-million federal grant. The program is designed to prepare students to communicate effectively in all areas and acquire skills needed for the 21st Century. Hopkins students enroll in one of three concentration areas: the fine and performing arts, world languages and cultures and literary arts. The Center for the Arts and International Studies includes three years of French or Spanish, as well as focus experiences in art, computers, dance, drama, piano, instrumental music or vocal music. The Center for Global Studies explores environmental, ecological, social and cultural issues such as overpopulation, resource allocation, cultural awareness and social consciousness. Students use the Internet, teleconferencing and digital learning to investigate potential solutions. Students enrolled in the Center for Literary Arts study literature, poetry, creative writing, dramatics and journalism. The program features a professional quality theater, an arts complex, special laboratories, a fully equipped television studio and a multimedia network. Bay Point's science and technology magnet program stresses hands-on science activities, higher-level mathematics and technology and foreign languages. The program features classroom multimedia workstations, intensive foreign language instruction and development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. Physical, earth and life science classes offer hands-on opportunities. Unlike elementary magnet programs, middle school magnets require applicants to meet stricter academic standards and demonstrate personal commitment to and interest in the program. Middle school magnets require most entering students to have a B average and above average state test scores. The only exception is Hopkins' Center for Global Studies, which has an open enrollment policy for all students. Once accepted in a magnet, parents are guaranteed their child will remain in the program throughout middle school, providing the student maintains a sufficient grade-point average and does not violate school rules.
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