Magnet Schools

[crabcake]

DQ's new school is a magnet school ... specifically, an International Baccalaurreate Organization Primary Years Programme. I'm checking out the IBO website to see just what exactly the dealy-O is with it and what makes it so special, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with a school like this? I've heard of magnet and charter schools before, and know they typically offer something 'extra' than regular public school tends to offer, but that's about it. :shrug:

 

[mainman]

DQ's new school is a magnet school ... specifically, an International Baccalaurreate Organization Primary Years Programme. I'm checking out the IBO website to see just what exactly the dealy-O is with it and what makes it so special, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with a school like this? I've heard of magnet and charter schools before, and know they typically offer something 'extra' than regular public school tends to offer, but that's about it. :shrug:

I know all about magnet schools we had magn... crap, those were metal detectors...Carry on.

 

[kwillia]

I know all about magnet schools we had magn... crap, those were metal detectors...Carry on.

Gawd 'o mighty you crack me up sometimes...

 

[kwillia]

DQ's new school is a magnet school ... specifically, an International Baccalaurreate Organization Primary Years Programme. I'm checking out the IBO website to see just what exactly the dealy-O is with it and what makes it so special, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with a school like this? I've heard of magnet and charter schools before, and know they typically offer something 'extra' than regular public school tends to offer, but that's about it. :shrug:

Is it a public school...

 

[crabcake]

Is it a public school...

Yes

 

[kwillia]

Yes

Didn't they hand out brochures and info when you registered her...

 

[crabcake]

Didn't they hand out brochures and info when you registered her...

Yea, but it's all in "educationese" to sound all fru-fru and impressive, which it does. I want the "for dummies" version.

 

[kwillia]

Yea, but it's all in "educationese" to sound all fru-fru and impressive, which it does. I want the "for dummies" version.

Do you have neighbors that actually have/had kids that attended the school...

 

[crabcake]

Do you have neighbors that actually have/had kids that attended the school...

One ... but she has a bit opposing schedule than I so it's hard to get up with her. Where we live, there are two options for schools -- traditional schedule (summers off) and year round (with four 3+week breaks throughout the year). Most of the neighbors do the year round scheduled school, and while I'd love to do it too, it doesn't jive with DQ's dad.

 

[kwillia]

One ... but she has a bit opposing schedule than I so it's hard to get up with her. Where we live, there are two options for schools -- traditional schedule (summers off) and year round (with four 3+week breaks throughout the year). Most of the neighbors do the year round scheduled school, and while I'd love to do it too, it doesn't jive with DQ's dad.

Then it doesn't seem like you have a decision to make... sounds like split parenthood has made the decision for you...:shrug:

 

[crabcake]

Then it doesn't seem like you have a decision to make... sounds like split parenthood has made the decision for you...:shrug:

I wasn't seeking advice on the decision to enroll her in one school or another. I was asking for input from people who've had experience with magnet schools. :shrug:

 

[Chasey_Lane]

DQ's new school is a magnet school ... specifically, an International Baccalaurreate Organization Primary Years Programme. I'm checking out the IBO website to see just what exactly the dealy-O is with it and what makes it so special, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with a school like this? I've heard of magnet and charter schools before, and know they typically offer something 'extra' than regular public school tends to offer, but that's about it. :shrug:

What's the "extra" you're looking for? IMO, a magnet school is the same as a "voucher" school. :shrug: In other words, it's a chosen school, not an assigned school.

 

[kwillia]

I wasn't seeking advice on the decision to enroll her in one school or another. I was asking for input from people who've had experience with magnet schools. :shrug:

Don't they have a forum in your area where they talk about the area magnet school... I would think that each magnet school is different and that you would really need to be talking to parents that are in your area...:shrug:

 

[kwillia]

Do you get to have any input as to what "extra" things your kid can learn? Like can you push your kid to excel in a particular field or do they lay out a standard path for all kids in the school...

 

[cattitude]

Hi Kwillia!!!

 

[kwillia]

Hi Kwillia!!!

Dang you skeered me... I thought I was all alone...

 

[crabcake]

Don't they have a forum in your area where they talk about the area magnet school... I would think that each magnet school is different and that you would really need to be talking to parents that are in your area...:shrug:

I just came across one local forum the other night, but it's meager in its offerings of local info. I'm beginning to think I have found a new line of work down here.

I'm not looking for specific info on my school; rather, just people's experiences with Magnet schools all around. I didn't know there were different kinds of magnet schools. Some are arts focused, science focused, music, etc. I just want to know what experiences -- if any -- peeps have had with them.Have you/your kids been to one?

 

[DoWhat]

I thought Magnet schools were for idiots.
I went to a couple different ones throught the years.

 

[carolinagirl]

CC -

When we lived in Wake County,my oldest daughter went to a Classical Literature Studies Magnet School. The basic concept of magnet schools is that they typically receive more funding, both state and federal, to provide students with more elective activities based on what the magnet association is. For example, since my daughter' school was a Classical Literature Studies Magnet School they typically did more reading than other schools. They had specific books (Jr. Great Books) with short stories that they read each week. They also received federal funds to hire a latin teacher for 3rd grade, they had a full-time federal Title I reading instructor. The students concentrated on reading and writing reports, and poetry and such. There was another magnet school that was a global communications magnet school. Basically, their students concentrated on computers and things associated with that. Their students had sister classes in other countries that they communicated with via the internet.

Hope this helps.

 

[carolinagirl]

I just came across one local forum the other night, but it's meager in its offerings of local info. I'm beginning to think I have found a new line of work down here.

I'm not looking for specific info on my school; rather, just people's experiences with Magnet schools all around. I didn't know there were different kinds of magnet schools. Some are arts focused, science focused, music, etc. I just want to know what experiences -- if any -- peeps have had with them.Have you/your kids been to one?

Depending on the school and it's leadership, magnet schools are the way to go. I absolutely loved my daughter's school. I had to go through the school board to have her transferred into that school because it wasn't in our district. The students at magnet schools typically score better on end of grade test than other schools and if they don't federal and state funding is more abundant to helping to bring everyone up to par. My daugher's school received federal funds to run a ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) after school for kids that were below performance level. Twice a week the teachers at the school would work with 5 students each on the testing areas. They would give them mock problems that were similar to those they would see on the tests. The kids stayed after school and then a Wake County School Bus would take them home.