Briefing Guide for Educators

Structure Description

The US Department of Education 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.

Management Issues/Challenges

School districts set admissions requirements that relate to the specialized curricula/program offered. There are no state regulations or laws that govern the operation. Districts have the authority to assign students. A lottery may be used where more applications are received than space is available.

Some programs operate as a school program within another school building; others operate at a specific campus.

Statewide Prevalence

District Name	Number of Magnets
Charleston	13
Darlington	6
Greenville	12
Lexington 2	2
Marlboro	2
Orangeburg 5	1
Richland 2	16

Anticipated Student Costs

Some districts have utilized Federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant funds for initial program expenses (planning, salaries, materials, and equipment). Cost-per-school program data is not currently available.

Transportation

Parents usually provide transportation to magnet programs located in a school other than the one for which the student is zoned.

Background

Magnet programs have a variety of objectives. The special curriculum of a magnet school may attract substantial numbers of students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds and provide a greater range of choice options within the district.