FILE:  JBCCB

Cf:  JBC, JBCC

Cf:  JBCCA, JBCD

 

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT TO MAGNET PROGRAMS

 

 

ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOLS ENTRANCE (K-5)

 

The admissions policy for the elementary magnet schools is based upon the following criteria:  sibling preference, admissions test scores, and diversity.

 

  1. First preference will be given to siblings of enrolled students.  Applicants who meet the qualifications for admission to the magnet school, and who have siblings presently enrolled in the school who will be enrolled at that school for the school year in which the applicant is applying will be admitted first.  This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  2. Admissions to the remaining seats available at a magnet school after siblings are placed will be made as follows:

 

  1. First, sixty percent (60%) of the seats will be filled based upon ranked admissions test scores, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  2. Then, in order to achieve diversity, 40% of the seats will be filled from a pool of applicants who meet the criteria for admission to the magnet school and who meet any of the following socio-economic designations:

 

  1. Applicant is qualified for free and reduced lunch;

  2. Applicant is qualified for Medicaid;

  3. Applicant is qualified for La. CHIPS;

  4. Applicant’s parents’ income level and family size are at a level considered by federal guidelines to be economically disadvantaged;

  5. Applicant is homeless;

  6. Applicant lives in subsidized (section 8) housing;

  7. Applicant is enrolled in ECE at a Title I school;

  8. Applicant’s parents receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children (Food Stamps);

  9. Applicant is enrolled in Head Start;

  10. Applicant is assigned to a Title I school.

 

This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

 

  1. Thereafter, if seats are still available, applicants will be placed according to their ranked admissions test scores, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

    When admissions are made based upon ranked admissions test scores, only one ranking list of all applicants will be used.  Applicants will be ranked according to their admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

 

MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOLS ENTRANCE (GRADES 6-8)

 

It is the policy of the Caddo Parish School Board that assignment of applicants who meet the qualifications for admissions for entrance to the Middle Magnet Schools follow the procedures as listed.

 

  1. First preference will be given to siblings of enrolled students.  Applicants who meet the qualifications for admission to the middle magnet school, and who have siblings presently enrolled in the school who will be enrolled at that school for the school year in which the applicant is applying, will be admitted first.  This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  2. Any student currently enrolled in grade 5 at Herndon Magnet School may remain at Herndon Magnet School for grade 6, if the student continues to meet the requirements to be enrolled in Herndon Magnet School, and no admissions test will be required.  This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  3. All remaining seats after placement of siblings will be assigned to applicants who meet or exceed the required admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  4. When admissions are made based upon ranked admissions test scores, only one ranking list of all applicants will be used.  Applicants will be ranked according to their admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  5. Middle Magnet School Principals are required to engage in aggressive recruitment of students who might not otherwise apply to the magnet schools, to work to improve admissions test scores for potential student applicants, and to work to improve admissions test scores for potential student applicants, and to administer the admissions test at multiple times and at multiple locations.  Also, the Middle Magnet School Principals are required to make a written report to the Superintendent each year documenting the specific measures taken to accomplish these directives.

 

K-8 MAGNET SCHOOLS ENTRANCE

 

The admissions policy for applicants to Kindergarten through grade 5 at the K-8 magnet schools is based upon the following criteria:  sibling preference, admissions test scores, and diversity.

 

  1. First preference for seats in Kindergarten through grade 5 will be given to siblings of enrolled students.  Applicants who meet the qualifications for admission to the K-8 Magnet School, and who have siblings presently enrolled in the school who will be enrolled at that school for the school year in which the applicant is applying, will be admitted first.  This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  2. Admissions to the remaining seats available in Kindergarten through grade 5 at a K-8 Magnet School after siblings are placed will be made as follows:

 

  1. First, sixty percent (60%) of the seats will be filled based upon ranked admissions test scores, without regard to race and without consideration of race. 

  2. Then, in order to achieve diversity, forty percent (40%) of the seats will be filled from a pool of applicants who meet the criteria for admission to the magnet school and who meet any of the following socio-economic designations:

 

  1. Applicant is qualified for free and reduced lunch;

  2. Applicant is qualified for Medicaid;

  3. Applicant is qualified for La. CHIPS;

  4. Applicant’s parents’ income level and family size are at a level considered by federal guidelines to economically disadvantaged;

  5. Applicant is homeless;

  6. Applicant lives in subsidized (Section 8) housing;

  7. Applicant is enrolled in ECE at a Title I school;

  8. Applicant’s parents receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children (Food Stamps);

  9. Applicant is enrolled in Head Start;

  10. Applicant is assigned to a Title I school.

 

This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

 

  1. Thereafter, if seats are still available in Kindergarten through grade 5, applicants will be placed according to their ranked admissions test scores, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

    When admissions are made based upon ranked admissions test scores, only one ranking list of all applicants will be used.  Applicants will be ranked according to their admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

 

Any student currently enrolled in grade 5 in a K-8 Magnet School may remain at that K-8 Magnet School for grade 6, if the student continues to meet the requirements to be enrolled in that K-8 Magnet School, and no admissions test will be required.  This admission will be without regard to race and without consideration of race.

 

The admissions policy at the K-8 Magnet Schools for applicants to grades 6 through 8 who are not currently enrolled in the K-8 Magnet Schools, and who meet the qualifications for admissions for entrance to the K-8 Magnet Schools, is as follows:

 

  1. First Preference will be given to siblings of enrolled students.  Applicants who meet the qualifications for admission to the middle magnet school, and who have siblings presently enrolled in the school who will be enrolled at that school for the school year in which the applicant is applying, will be admitted first.  This admission will be made without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  2. All remaining seats after placement of siblings will be assigned to applicants who meet or exceed the required admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  3. When admissions are made based upon ranked admissions test scores, only one ranking list of all applicants will be used.  Applicants will be ranked according to their admissions test score, without regard to race and without consideration of race.

  4. K-8 Magnet School Principals are required to engage in aggressive recruitment of students who might not otherwise apply to the magnet schools, to work to improve admissions test scores for potential student applicants, and to work to improve admissions test scores for potential student applicants, and to administer the admissions test at multiple times and at multiple locations.  Also, the K-8 Magnet School  Principals are required to make a written report to the Superintendent each year documenting the specific measures taken to accomplish these directives.

 

ADMISSION TO HIGH SCHOOL MAGNET PROGRAMS

 

In order to be admitted into a magnet program in Caddo Parish the parents/student must:

 

  1. Meet all requirements for GPA, standardized test scores, and attendance for the magnet program as established by the Caddo Parish School Board,

  2. Have parental/guardian consent and support,

  3. Make application and have application approved by the principal of the magnet school, and

  4. Execute a magnet contract for at least one school year.

 

A student who moves into Caddo Parish from another school district and has been enrolled in a comparable magnet program in the school district from which the student moved may be considered for admission in a magnet program if all admission requirements are met and there is room available in the magnet program.

 

Retention In the Magnet Program

 

In order to remain in a magnet program in Caddo Parish Schools, a student must maintain the proper cumulative GPA and conform to behavior standards for the magnet program. Unless there are unusual circumstances or infractions of the rules of the magnet program, students will be placed on probation or under advisement before they are removed from the magnet program.  The magnet school will maintain documentation that the student and the parents/guardians were notified, in writing, of this probation/advisement period and the terms and conditions associated with it.  It is strongly recommended that ninth grade students be placed on probation or under advisement for the next year rather than removed from the magnet program.

 

Removal from the Magnet Program

 

Except in unusual circumstances, students will be removed from a magnet program only after they have been placed on probation or under advisement and the terms of the probation/advisement explained, in writing, to both the student and the parents/guardians.

 

The decision to remove a student from the magnet program is made by the magnet principal only after receiving input from assistant principals, counselors and teachers.  Each of the student's teachers will prepare a Student Evaluation Sheet.

 

It is strongly recommended that seniors in a magnet program be allowed to finish their last year in that magnet program.   Every effort should be made to identify problem students and reassign them if necessary before their senior year.

 

Students returning to the neighborhood school shall do so with the approval of the neighborhood principal.  If the student is under administrative probation for discipline, that student may be assigned to the School away from School if the administrative probation contract is violated during the school year.

 

The appeal process for removal of a student from a magnet program is outlined in the following steps:

 

  1. Parents/student may request a conference with the magnet school principal.

  2. If still not satisfied with the decision, the parents/student may request a conference with the appropriate director in the central office.  The director may uphold the decision of the magnet school principal or, if circumstances warrant, return the student to the magnet program under administrative probation.

  3. If the parents/student are not satisfied with the decision of the director, they may appeal the director's decision to the Superintendent.  The decision of the Superintendent is final.

 

Return to a Neighborhood School

 

Parents/students desiring to leave a magnet program may return to a neighborhood school or apply for admission to another magnet program at the end of a school year.

 

Except in extenuating circumstances, no transfers between magnet schools or from a magnet school to a neighborhood school will be authorized after the school year begins.

 

If extenuating circumstances exist, the contract with the magnet school may be terminated during the school year with the agreement of both the magnet principal and the neighborhood principal.  Documentation such as a physician's statement may be required.  The parents/student may use the appeal process described above if they are not satisfied about the decision of the magnet/neighborhood principals.

 

POLICY REVIEW

 

The School Board will review this policy with input from staff two years after its adoption, and every two years thereafter, to determine if revisions are needed.

 

Adopted:  April 20, 2021

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§9:951, 9:952, 9:953, 9:954, 17:81, 17:104.1, 17:221.2, 17:221.4, 17:221.5

Board minutes, 8-16-95, 9-20-06, 11-16-06, 4-20-21

 

Caddo Parish School Board