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| District 25 and District 28 Magnet School Program | ||
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The New York City Department of Education District 25 & 28 Magnet School Program supports innovative, instructional programs that promote equity, diversity, and academic excellence for all students.
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NYC Department of Education
District 25 & 28 Magnet Assistance Program Granted by the US Department of Education Magnet School Assistance Program, we are able to open up school zone lines in District 25 & 28 to provide educational choice. This means that residents of these two Queens districts can apply to one of the five Magnet Schools without regard to their local neighborhood school zone lines! While priority is given to zoned students, who do not need to apply, Magnet School applicants will be part of a random selection lottery. No academic criteria such as academic examination or grades will be used to screen or select students. Presentation about Magnet School Choice, slide show, pptx or mov Presentation about Magnet Schools, focusing on PS 201, slide show, pdf,or zipped pps Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation Queens Museum of Art Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation Queens Museum of Art Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation Middle School Choice Power Point Presentation 63rd Drive Festival Forest Hills Austin Street Festival Borough Enrollment Office While similar courses and programs may be available in comprehensive schools, Magnet Programs attract students by offering unique opportunities for in-depth experiences and study in specific areas of interest. Each Magnet Program emphasizes a specialized theme. Our goal is to create educational interests, celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity, and foster student achievement. |
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Our Magnet School Program: • Expands educational choices for students • Promotes diversity within our schools • Sets high expectations for all students to improve student achievement • Prepares students for further education and the world of work • Develops positive school climates with academic emphasis • Provides real-life and hands-on experiences • Offers mentorship and internship opportunities |
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Our dedicated Principals and school community are working together to achieve these goals. In addition, each school has two full time Magnet Specialists to help implement their exciting program. To learn more about the individual schools, get contact information, or to schedule a tour, go back to www.magnet2528.com and click on the school of your choice. General descriptions of the schools are below. Please help us reach more parents interested in Magnet schools by answering a brief question about how you heard about these Magnet schools. Click here to answer the question. Thank you. The NYC Districts 25 & 28 Magnet Program Consortium involves PS 201: The Discovery School for Inquiry and Research Students here are engaged in hands-on, project-based activities encouraging them to become independent thinkers who ask questions and actively search for answers. Inquiry-based learning allows students to use their creativity while taking responsibility for their learning by making informed decisions. The students reap the benefits of being part of a school where small-class size and the infusion of technology into all areas of the curriculum is the norm. JHS 185 Edward Bleeker ASPIRES Magnet School The ASPIRES magnet program integrates the themes of Architecture/Engineering, Medicine, and Social Justice across the middle school curriculum. This interdisciplinary approach, supported by various partnerships, introduces students to many professions in the various fields and engages them in rigorous intellectual discussions about the global issues that face us today. Their programs enhance critical and creative thinking skills and foster values and behaviors required for a sustainable future. MS 217 Robert A. Van Wyck Green Magnet School for Career Exploration The Green Magnet School is a 21st century school where every student and every teacher has a laptop; and every classroom has a Smart Board. The Green Magnet School offers the rich variety of academics and extracurricular activities of a large school, while providing the intimacy and personal attention of a small learning community. In smaller learning communities, students explore future career options, while they study, devise, and implement high and low tech green solutions to the world’s environmental issues. IS 237 Rachel Carson The Magnet School for the Arts I.S. 237 Magnet School for the Arts strives to achieve academic excellence by integrating music, visual arts, theater and dance across the curriculum. Students are excited by and engaged in a unique program of study which uses the arts to deepen student understanding of specific content while promoting an atmosphere of creativity, inquiry and intellectual independence. In addition, IS 237 provides electives including: painting, drawing, graphic design, photography, three dimensional art, playwriting, play production, musical theater, ballroom dance, digital music, guitar, keyboards, world drumming, band, strings, chorus, and more. IS 250 Robert F Kennedy Magnet School of Community Studies Learning from the community and teaching to the community; this is the philosophy of the Magnet Middle School of Community Studies. Embedded in the rigorous content-rich curriculum are opportunities for community involvement encouraging “real world” experiences. IS 250 believes that for students to have a deep understanding of their responsibility to the global community then they must begin with an examination of the fertile ground within their own community. |
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Click on the question to go to the answer for a frequently asked questions. |
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1. What is the District 25 and District 28 Magnet Program? Grants funded by the Federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program have enabled District 25 and District 28 to create 5 Magnet Schools. A Magnet School is a school that offers a very special curriculum designed around a specific theme. It offers students the opportunity to study subjects or experience a teaching methodology that is different from the basic curriculum. In addition, it helps strengthen students’ basic skills in the areas of mathematics, science, social studies, English, foreign languages, art, music, and vocational skills. Best of all, you and your child can select a Magnet School without regard to your local neighborhood school zone lines! That means that if you live in District 25 or 28, your child is eligible to apply to attend any of the Magnet Schools and the program is FREE! |
2. Why should my child attend? There are many advantages to attending a Magnet School. Your child will receive outstanding academics and, in addition, special enrichment in the school’s theme area which will enhance the learning process. There are other benefits of Magnet schools. Specific achievements in Magnet Schools include: improved academic achievement; diverse student enrollments; higher attendance rates, graduation rates, and lower drop-out rates. Magnet schools boast more parental involvement, more personalization through theme-based education, and specialized programs providing a sense of a safer
environment for learning. Teachers are better prepared through planned professional development.
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3. How do I learn more about the schools involved in the Magnet Program? There are several ways to learn more about the schools. One way is to read about the schools on our website. On the homepage there is an icon for each school. If a particular school or program sounds interesting to you, you can learn more about it by calling the Magnet School Specialist(s) listed on the website and inside the application packet. In addition, you can call the school to learn about and attend their open houses that will take place over the course of the year. Lastly, you can attend the District 25 Middle School Fair and/or the District 28 Magnet School Fair which will be held at sometime in December or January. Either check back in with our website or your current schools parent coordinator to learn the exact details of the Fair. |
If your child currently attends a NYC public school, he or she will receive a Middle School application in December. The application is to be filled out by a parent and or guardian and returned to the school. If the child is not currently enrolled in a NYC Public School, please contact the Magnet Office at (718) 353-0753 for a Middle School choice application. Elementary School applications will be available online in October at www.magnet2528.com as well as through your child’s current school parent coordinator and guidance counselor. More information regarding submission of the 2009- 2010 application will be forthcoming. |
All K-7 students residing in District 25 and District 28 are eligible to apply. Student selection will be done by a random lottery. No academic criteria such as academic examination or grades will be used to screen or select students. In addition, no performance testing or screening will be used to select students. |
6. If I have applied to a middle school through the District 25 Middle School Choice Program, can I still apply to a Magnet School? 6. If I have applied to a middle school through the District 25 Middle School Choice Program, can I still apply to a Magnet School? This year, the Magnet School Programs will be on the same application as the Middle School Choice programs. So you will be able to rank all of your choices on one application, be it Middle School Choice or Magnet. In late May you will receive a letter letting you know which school you have received a seat in. At that point you will then get to choose from the choice/magnet seat OR your zone school. |
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7. If I choose a school that is not near my residence, will busing be provided? Free contracted bus transportation is NOT guaranteed for Magnet Students. Pupils in upper grades who are eligible, will receive free bus and/or train passes for public transportation. In some cases Magnet schools may be able to arrange for existing bus routes to accommodate a small number of students. |
8. If busing is not provided how long will it take my child to get to and from your Magnet schools? Travel time varies depending on where you live and if your child lives more than a mile away from school they are eligible for a full fare metro card to travel to and from school. To find out public transportation routes from your home to each of our Magnet schools you may use www.hopstop.com and that will give you specific routes with alternative options as well. |
9. Does District 25 & 28 offer gifted and talented classes in Middle School? Does my child need to take a test? Where do I find out the information? District 25 & 28 do not have gifted and talented classes; however, they do have honors and SP classes that are enriched to challenge students who need a higher level of academic challenges. If your child was in a gifted and talented program in elementary school he or she would need to be retested for middle school. As the parent you would need to request have your child take the OLSAT test. For further information you need to visit The NYC Department of Education website at http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm and type in Gifted and Talented in the search engine for the most current and up-to-date information. |
10. Do your Magnet Middle Schools offer Regents testing and or prep classes for specialized high schools? Yes, several of our Magnet Middle Schools offer Regents testing and prep classes for specialized high schools. |
11. What high schools do your students currently go to when they graduate from the Magnet Middle Schools? Our students go to some of the most competitive High Schools in New York. However, for specifics I would contact the Magnet Specialist at each school for the most current lists available |
12. My child is in special education class can I apply to your Magnet Schools and does the theme get infused into there curriculum? How do I know if your school offers the services my child may need? We accept students at all levels and incorporate the theme in our entire curriculum to challenge them academically. The application process is a random lottery and NO criteria is used. Thus all students are eligible to be accepted. With that being said, it is important that your child’s needs be met. We suggest that you schedule an appointment with the Magnet Specialist at the schools you are interested in to get a tour and to speak with a guidance counselor about your child’s needs. You should bring his/her IEP (individualized education plan) so you can learn what the school has to offer and to support your child. |
13. When do I get the Middle School Choice application and find out what schools are available to chose from? There are two parts – the school brochure booklet and the application. The Middle School brochures have already been delivered to your schools. You can also get the middle school brochure for your district by visiting The NYC Department of Education website at http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm and typing in Middle School Choice and your district for the most current and up-to-date information. The applications will be distributed in your school in early November. They are sent by the District enrollment office and will be sent to the guidance counselor in each school. They will be prepopulated with the child’s personal information and the parent will just need to select and order their school choices. |
14. My school goes to the sixth grade can I apply in the fifth grade for a Magnet Middle School? Are my chances better in the fifth grade as opposed to the sixth grade? Can I go to graduation at my school if I am accepted to a middle school for the sixth grade? Yes, you can apply in the fifth grade even if your school goes up to the sixth grade. Our Magnet Schools start in the sixth grade so there are more seats for incoming sixth graders. However, while there are fewer seats in the 7th grade, there are also fewer applicants in the 7th grade. Being allowed to participate in graduation would be a decision only your child’s current school principal could decide. |
15. Can I visit the Magnet Schools at any time for a tour, to talk more about the themes and to see how it is actually incorporated with the state requirements? We encourage potential families of incoming students to visit all of our schools to understand the themes, experience the culture of our schools and see how the theme is integrated into the curriculum by calling our Magnet Specialist to schedule an appointment. Information can be found on this website by clicking on the individual school. Also at our website you can get a feel for the school by viewing the virtual tour we have created for each school. |
16. Can I speak with a teacher regularly via email or by phone? Do your Magnet schools have a website so I can see what is going on at the school? Yes, all of our teachers have email addresses. You may always leave telephone messages for them or any other staff you may need to get in contact with. All of our schools also have individual websites that list all homework, projects, upcoming tests and events. You can go to the individual school magnet sites at www.magnet2528.com; there you will find the individual school website links. |
17. We may be moving at the end of the school year should I apply for your Magnet schools even if I am interested but not sure of when this will happen or if it will? You always want to apply; otherwise you are giving away your choice in potentially going to the Magnet School of your choice. If you do find out you are moving you can decline your seat once you receive your decision letter. |
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18. What is the history of Magnet Schools in America? In the 1960’s in the United States, some options to traditional public schools sprang up as a protest against racially segregated schools. The history of Magnet Schools is tied to the 1960’s protest over school desegregation and the educational reform model of public school choice as a way to address educational inequity. |
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Magnet Schools plan and develop programs using local, state, and federal funds, including the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP), Title I, Voluntary Public School Choice, Advanced Placement, and Smaller Learning Community grants. Congress recently reauthorized MSAP to support the continuation of this program that provides students with a valuable educational and personal experience, prepares them to function in a diverse society, and helps to eliminate, reduce or prevent long-standing patterns of racial isolation. Magnet schools continue to serve as models for school improvement efforts. They provide students an opportunity to succeed academically while learning in a racially diverse environment. Magnet schools will serve as a public school choice option for many LEAs throughout the Nation and support the policy under No Child Left Behind to promote public school choice for students in low performing schools. |
20. What were the beginnings? What is a Magnet School? In the late 1960’s, school districts across America were being torn apart by resistance to forced desegregation of the schools. Many parents would move to a suburban school district to keep from having their children bused to a school away from the neighborhood. Others would choose private education for their children. School administrators and boards of education began to try to find a voluntary way to reduce racial isolation. Court Orders, followed by Voluntary School Desegregation plans would become common place in urban school districts to address minority group isolation. In the early 1980’s Magnet schools eventually were helped by the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) which provided the impetus for thousands of magnet schools, which required districts seeking these funds to develop and implement a voluntary desegregation plan or are part of a court order to reduce racial isolation. |
Information from the Magnet Schools of America Website |
21. How can I learn more about the United States Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program? Program Description These grants assist in the desegregation of public schools by supporting the elimination, reduction, and prevention of minority group isolation in elementary and secondary schools with substantial numbers of minority group students. In order to meet the statutory purposes of the program, projects also must support the development and implementation of magnet schools that assist in the achievement of systemic reforms and provide all students with the opportunity to meet challenging academic content and student academic achievement standards. Projects support the development and design of innovative education methods and practices that promote diversity and increase choices in public education programs. The program supports capacity development–the ability of a school to help all its students meet more challenging standards–through professional development and other activities that will enable the continued operation of the magnet schools at a high performance level after funding ends. Finally, the program supports the implementation of courses of instruction in magnet schools that strengthen students’ knowledge of academic subjects and their grasp of tangible and marketable vocational skills. Types of Projects Magnet schools offer a wide range of distinctive education programs. Some emphasize academic subjects such as math, science, technology, language immersion, visual and performing arts, or humanities. Others use specific instructional approaches, such as Montessori methods, or approaches found in international baccalaureate programs or early college programs. Additional Information The Magnet Schools Assistance program provides grants to eligible local educational agencies to establish and operate magnet schools that are operated under a court-ordered or federally approved voluntary desegregation plan. The statute defines a magnet school as a public elementary school, public secondary school, public elementary education center, or public secondary education center that offers a special curriculum capable of attracting substantial numbers of students of different racial backgrounds. Magnet programs aim to eliminate, reduce, or prevent minority group isolation in elementary and secondary schools while strengthening students' knowledge of academic subjects and their grasp of marketable vocational skills. The special curriculum of a magnet school attracts substantial numbers of students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds and provides greater opportunities for voluntary and court-ordered desegregation efforts to succeed. For more information from the US Department of Education – Magnet Schools Assistance Program go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/magnet/index.html |
Applications for the next school year will be available in December. |