FAQS: Magnet Selection

If I apply to a school that already has a waitlist, will my child be added to the waitlist according to the random number or be added to the bottom of the list?

Students who apply during round two of the magnet or proximity choice selection and are not selected for their first choice school will be placed on the waitlist, according to their applied random number, BEHIND students already on the waitlist from the magnet or round one selection.

If we participate in Proximity and Magnet Round 2 Choice selection, which one will be processed first?

If you participate in both Magnet and Proximity Choice Selection during round two, your magnet choices will be processed first. If your student can be seated in one of your ranked magnet choices, that will become your student's assignment for the 2012-13 school year. Proximity choices will only be processed if it is not possible to seat your student in one of your magnet choices.

My child was selected for a magnet seat but now we want to participate in the proximity round. Can we do that?

Yes, a family may participate in each round of selection if they wish. If selected for a school on their proximity choice list, the student will be released from their magnet assignment and assigned to the new school.  If they are not selected for a school on their proximity choice list, your child will remain assigned to the magnet school and will be on the waitlist for your first choice proximity school.

I am still interested in applying for a magnet school after the selection round ended. How can I do that?

At the end of the proximity choice round, open magnet seats will be available. At that time, you may participate by ranking schools with open seats at your child’s grade level.  If a student is selected for a magnet school, that magnet school will become their assignment and their previous seat will be released and assigned to another student on the waitlist.

I thought that open magnet seats would be available during the first proximity choice selection round. Where are they listed?

They will be available after the first proximity choice selection round. If a student is selected for a magnet school, that magnet school will become their assignment and their previous seat will be released and assigned to another student on the waitlist.

My child was selected for a magnet school. What do I need to do now?

You don’t have to do anything; this school is now your student’s school assignment for the 2012-2013 school year. Each magnet school will host a “Welcome Event” so that students who were selected can learn more about the school. The school will correspond with families about the date for that event.

If I am on the waitlist for a magnet school, what do I need to do?

You don’t have to do anything. Your child’s name will remain on the magnet waitlist even if you are selected for a school in the proximity choice selection round. Parents will be notified by mail if a vacancy opens, at which time their student will be automatically assigned to their first choice magnet school. This means the student will be released from their previous assignment and assigned to their first choice magnet school. The wait list will remain in place until June 29, 2012.

If for any reason you are no longer interested in attending that magnet school, you may notify the Office of Student Assignment to have your child’s name removed from the waitlist.  A written request is required to remove a student from the waitlist, and we must receive it in advance of the notification date that follows the current choice selection round.  You can email studentassignment@wcpss.net, fax 919-431-7302 or mail/hand-deliver your request to the Office of Student Assignment by February 24 for the March 16 assignment notification, by April 9 for the April 26 assignment notification, by May 25 for the May 29 assignment notification, and by June 22 for the June 27 assignment notification. UPDATED 4/20/12

 

If a school shows fewer than five seats, does that mean I won’t get in?

Not necessarily. The figure is based on the number of students pre-assigned to that school. If any of those students decide to apply for another school that will open additional seats. Even if seats do not initially open up, you will still be placed on the wait list if you rank that school as your first choice.

Can I change my mind about my choices?

An applicant/family may sign back into their account and review or change their choices at any time before the selection period ends at 10 p.m. on Dec. 19.

Does my receipt verify my choices?

Your receipt will show your choices as of your latest update along with a time-stamp that verifies the last update.

Why do some people see Ligon or Carnage twice on their list? I only see Ligon once.

Students who are identified as Academically Gifted will see both an AG Basics option and a Gifted and Talented option at the middle school level. Students who are not AG identified will not see an AG Basics option at the middle school level.

Why are there so few seats available at my grade level? Many schools are showing fewer than five seats.

Because all students currently enrolled in WCPSS were pre-assigned to their current school or the next school in their feeder pattern for the 2012-13 school year, those students have already filled many seats. Kindergarten is the only grade where there are a substantial number of seats initially available for selection. More seats may become available as the choice process continues. UPDATED 2/10/12

If my child is a magnet student at a school that is now on their proximity list, how can they switch so they can follow the proximity pathway?

Families are not able to change their status at a school they are currently attending. They may participate in the proximity choice selection at a grade span change (rising into sixth or ninth grade) and apply for the feeder middle or high school on their proximity choice list. If they are not selected, they maintain their magnet status, follow their magnet feeder pattern and are placed on the wait list for their first choice school. If a student is selected for a proximity choice seat, they will be assigned to that school and their magnet seat will be released to be assigned to another student on the waitlist. (Updated 2/2/11)

How can I learn about the schools on my magnet and choice lists?

Most magnet schools host weekly tours for families. You may contact them directly for their tour schedule. Choice schools will also host tours. Check their websites for information about school fairs and tours.

Does my child have to be academically gifted in order to apply to an AG Basics program?

At the elementary level, a child does not have to be identified as academically gifted to apply for an AG Basics program. At the middle school level, only students who are AG-identified are able to apply for the AG Basics program.

How many schools can I apply to in the magnet selection round?

A student may apply for as few as one or as many as five magnet schools.

Where can I see a list of performance for every school so that I will know which are high, middle or low performing?

Individual school performance is available at http://www.wcpss.net/school-directory/. You can also visit http://www.wcpss.net/test-scores/ for tables that compare school results.

How many schools do I have to apply for? Do I have to apply for all the schools on my list or can I just apply to the ones I like?

1. If you are a new student to WCPSS (rising kindergartner; newcomer; or returning to WCPSS from a private, charter or home school) and do not currently have a school assignment, you will need to rank at least five elementary schools, or all of the middle schools, or all of the high schools on your list so that the district will be able to find a seat for you.  If you are on the waitlist for a magnet school but still do not have a school assignment, you will need to you will need to rank at least five elementary schools, or all of the middle schools, or all of the high schools on your list so that the district will be able to find a seat for you.
2. If you are a current WCPSS student or have recently been selected for a magnet school, and you already have a school assignment for next year, you should rank only the school(s) to which you would like to apply. If a student is selected for a school to which they apply, they are automatically assigned to that school and the former seat is released to be assigned to another student.  If you are not selected, you will continue to be assigned to your current school for next year and will be placed on the waitlist for your first-choice school. The waitlist will dissolve on June 29, 2012. UPDATED 2/10/12.

If a student is selected for a magnet school, can they still apply for a school in the proximity choice selection round?

Any student, including a student who has been selected for a magnet seat, may participate in the choice selection round to request a seat at another school. If a student is selected for a proximity choice seat at that other school, they will be assigned to that school and their magnet seat will be released to be assigned to another student. Students cannot apply for a different type of seat (magnet or proximity) in the same magnet school. Each student will have access to only one type of seat in a magnet school and not the other type. (UPDATED 2/2/12)

How will notification of selection be sent: by mail or online?

Notification of selection will be available online by the notification date. At that time, parents will be able to sign back onto to their account on the choice selection website and see their student’s selection. Written notification will be sent to all students around the middle of May.

Can students switch magnet pathways at 6th and 9th grade?

Students at all grade levels in all schools will be able to participate every year in the choice selection process based on available seats if they want to change their pathway/feeder pattern.

Will a current WCPSS student who decides to participate in the magnet selection process lose the seat they already have?

Any student who participates in the magnet selection process and is selected will be assigned to that school.   This assignment will take the place of their current assignment.  A student who is not selected will placed on the waitlist for their first choice school and will maintain their current assignment.