It's will be even tougher getting a slot in some popular magnet schools this year.
As noted in today's article, plans are underway to raise the percentages of low-income students at some magnet schools. It's a two-step approach involving increasing the base by reassigning in more students and restricting the number of magnet applicants who are accepted.
So the acceptance rates should fall at Hunter, Underwood and Wiley elementary schools and Enloe High. It will also get tougher making it into Partnership Elementary, which Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney will recommend get magnet status.
Partnership has been a quasi-magnet school for years. It initially was started by then-Supt. Jim Surratt to compete with the new charter school movement. The school's application process was later folded into the magnet application process.
Those schools already had high rejection rates last year due to their popularity.
During the recent reassignment work sessions, Dulaney said magnet schools should be at the system average for low-income students. It's 33 percent at elementary schools.
School board member Beverley Clark said that if they felt it was wrong to leave Lacy Elementary with such a low LI percentage then they needed to also make changes to the magnet schools.
Dulaney explained to board members that the traditional strategies for raising the LI percentages at magnet elementary schools such as Wiley, Brooks and Underwood don't work because they've got non low-income families moving into their bases. He said Joyner would soon be in that situation.
The bases for magnet schools are used to get the low-income students. Then the magnet students are added to reduce the percentage of low-income kids.
More changes could be coming too.
The magnet selection criteria hasn't been finalized yet for this year. Dulaney could present possible changes to the board later this month.
Comments
really want to change the
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 07:52 — martinjreally want to change the BOE as a long term goal, but short term it seems like everyone has given up on changing the current plan. Younger siblings who already attend the school when the older sibling is grandfathered will be grandfathered in. I am student of school of computer science and trying to get some courses from school of natural sciences and school of health sciences
Spending money on "getting the magnet word out"
Sun, 02/15/2009 - 08:42 — scallyoWith a mere 37% magnet acceptance rate, and a flooded applicant pool, why is WCPSS spending marketing dollars on these colored flyers inserted into the N&O? I would like to know how much money this is taking out of our school system, and WHY it is being done. Does anyone know the answers to these questions? It seems as if they are targeting some group, but who?
I'd say...
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 09:18 — RiversideRealist... looking to the national media for help in THIS case is barking up the wrong tree.
Not to rain on your parade...
(OK, enough hokey metaphors for today! :) )
Seriously, though, I don't see ANY national, or nationally recognized, media outlet siding with the parents here. They love the diversity utopia, too. Likely, they'd go back and report on how EVERYONE else should be doing it, too. *pat backs, back pats*
When will the N&O
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 21:06 — Big_PictureWhen will the N&O investigate this insanity? Inquiring minds would like to have the truth shown to the taxpaying public. Does Patti Head dare lie to the press?
Doesn't sound like the N&O folk(s) care
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 21:34 — g88ky07so I wouldn't look for any help from there.
The wcpss "payola" in what ever mode it is being paid, or forced upon, is more important than fair and balanced coverage of a system truly going down the crapper!
All I hear is kerrrrrrrrrrr flushhhhhhhhhhh!
If the local press is part
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 07:26 — Big_PictureIf the local press is part of the coverup then I say bring in the National media?
Being worked on...
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 09:11 — Eric_BThis is already being worked on (bringing in the national media).
Eric B - Do you know how
Fri, 02/13/2009 - 09:01 — parentEric B - Do you know how close Keep Local Schools is to raising the required funds to pursue an injunction for the current reassignment plan. Are there any formalized fund raising going on. It seems like those I have talked to would be interested in donating, but feel they need a little more info than is on the web site. I really want to change the BOE as a long term goal, but short term it seems like everyone has given up on changing the current plan.
No time like the present to
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 10:59 — Big_PictureNo time like the present to lay it all out on the table. Good job Eric B.
Good!
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 09:19 — g88ky07You go Eric! If they hurry up we might actually be able to get some of the truth out there, before Chuck can figure out how to cover more of it up!
;c )
There's no ribbons for that type of reporting
Thu, 02/12/2009 - 07:58 — Dadof3My first thought is that this isn't a "coverup" but rather explained by Hanlon's Razor "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence."
Please, Mr. Hui, I don't mean you, but the N&O is last place I'd expect to see hard-hitting coverage where they also hand out "you're such a good person" ribbons.
One simple example: have you seen the unchallenged coverage of the "stimulus" package in congress? Why expect anything else from N&O or national for that matter. They'd be pariahs, not award-winning news organizations, for taking on the modern orthodoxy.
We fight alone and maybe we're better off without that monkey on our back.
Recall?
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:57 — Eric_BCan board members be recalled?
ugh.....(not personal Eric_B just months and months of hell
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 17:51 — AngelaWin WCPSS again, I've asked this FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, the closest I can figure it a petition and I think it would need about 3,000+ signatures. Now I am fairly certain she has pi$$ed off enough Leesville families alone, add in some Wood Valley Folks, perhaps, but would that DO ANYTHING NOW?!?!?
where was all this INTEREST MONTHS AGO,prior to Patti throwing the middle under the bus? where was all this OUTRAGE when she $crewed the elementary school in 06??
WHERE?????
LRMS MYR MESS--
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:48 — AngelaWTHIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is NOT NEW, this IS NOT SHOCKING, EVERYONE is aware and WCPSS, Chuck, Patti are ALL in posession of first hand knowledge, reports and numbers placed IN THEIR HANDS, emails with FACTS for months, mailing with FACTS for months, but nope, NONE of this is as important as a "spat" between neighbors apparently.... thanks be, that I have a rising freshman next year and two more years before we have to face middle again, it's gonna go down quick and WCPSS DOES NOT CARE, CHUCK DOES NOT CARE, PATTI for SURE DOES NOT CARE, and no one seems to get that!
Leesville Middle YR Mess
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:22 — Eric_BThere's a lot of fallout at Leesville Middle as a result of the pending YR conversion.
The school has enrollment of 1281 students for next year. This is after the reassignment plan is taken into account. With grandfathering, the number is sure to be less because more students are being moved into LRMS than are being moved out. The additional YR capacity will not be needed next year!
25 transfer requests have been submitted from teachers requesting transfer to a traditional calendar school. There are applicants that would like to fill the positions freed by any transfers, but may not be able to do so because of the hiring freeze.
Track 4 is overloaded at Leesville Elementary, Sycamore Creek and Brier Creek. Now that the middle school is YR, the middle school cannot accommodate all the rising track 4 6th graders plus other elementary school siblings. Some number of families are going to be forced to switch off of track 4 and/or put up with siblings on different tracks.
What a mess! Could we get some reporting on this??
I submitted my son's YR
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 18:02 — loriacI submitted my son's YR application for Track 4 only - he will have an older brother in high school. He will be grandfathered in - waiting to see if they accept the application or make us apply for transfer and thus get denied transportation (see my other posts).
I'm hoping his private school application gets approved and this is a moot point - so, wcpss drove another one out.
I would like to see some reporting on the effectiveness of the school board as it relates to this year-round conversion. Why did they have to mess up a perfectly good school.
I think you application will
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 00:56 — martinjI think you application will be approved. When will be the online high school classes will start?
I was forwarded an
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:31 — Big_PictureI was forwarded an e-mail written by Lisa B with this same info. I think she got the numbers straight from the Leesville Midd Principal.
Yes, Mr. Hui: could you report on this?
criteria
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 07:00 — kermitGot the acceptance rate data from the article but what about the criteria for acceptance in YR application schools? Some of the elementary schools have very low acceptance rates yet remain underenrolled. What gives?
The denied applicants don't
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 09:14 — SouthEastWakeMomThe denied applicants don't meet the diversity criteria as set forth by the BOE for either their base school or their year round option.
YR question & followup
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 13:51 — loriacKeung - if my son is grandfathered into Leesville Middle (he is reassigned to West Millbrook Middle) - will his YR application to LRMS automatically be approved? THe note I received from Wake Growth and Planning wasn't clear, and I did not receive a callback yet to answer this question.It seems to me that it should be approved - the only result of not approving it (and forcing us to apply for transfer) would be to deny transportation... just curious since I'm new to this process.
I received a callback from the Wake Growth & Planning dept - there's no coordination of grandfathering and the YR application process. My son could be denied the YR spot, even tho he would qualify under grandfathering. They couldn't answer my question about how to appeal for bus transportation in that case (since the bus will be going thru the neighborhood anyway). Gotta love it.
What grade is your child? It
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 15:26 — KeungHui (author)What grade is your child? It would seem that grandfathering for rising 7th- and 8th-graders wouldn't require a yr calendar application.
grandfathering
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 15:54 — loriacI was told for grandfathering - it required the transfer request. However, since this is also the YR option for our neighborhood, and that's the only way to get busing - then I was told to apply for the YR option and use the transfer request as a backup.
I realize there's no transportation w/ grandfathering - however, in our case, there will be a bus going thru the neighborhood (assuming LRMS accepts at least one YR middle school application). I would think in this case it would make sense to approve the YR applications of kids who are grandfathered - why not give them the bus ride.
oh I am quite cetain they
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 16:30 — AngelaWoh I am quite cetain they would accept, the numbers for the school next year are slated to be 1281, that's one LESS CHILD THAN THIS YEAR.....still believe MYR is about growth?? Where's the overcrowding Patti's been yelling about?
what a bunch of horse$hit.
Where did you hear that
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 01:02 — Big_PictureWhere did you hear that Angela? If that is true it should be reported to the public and not just hidden away in blog world.
from the middle school and
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 07:11 — AngelaWfrom the middle school and it HAS been told to the BoE, the CC's, Chuck, Del etc., over and over and over....*we* are not the ones "hiding" it ;)
Take a quick gander at the
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 10:15 — Big_PictureTake a quick gander at the Leesville Middle Reassignment Plan page to see how insane this is. Look at all of the node numbers coming in and out. If the end result after massive shuffling is no change in enrollment then any normal person would conclude that it is not necessary.
Mr. Hui can you do an investigative piece on this Leesville farce? Why is everyone (aka press) afraid to call WCPSS out on their shenanigans?
if they approve YR
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 16:04 — NWRaleighMomif they approve YR applications for grandfathered kids, they will also have to accept their siblings in a year or two...
Are you sure that is how it
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 10:16 — Big_PictureAre you sure that is how it works? My understanding is that only those younger siblings who already attend the school when the older sibling is grandfathered will be grandfathered in.
You are correct. I was
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 10:33 — NWRaleighMomYou are correct. I was answering why WCPSS would prefer to grandfather versus approving his application to YR.
Thanks for the
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:06 — Big_PictureThanks for the clarification.
year round acceptance rates
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 09:08 — kermitKeung, Could you please publish the application and acceptance rate for year round calendar elementary and middle schools?
Is it true Growth Management is monitoring the acceptance rates at YR application schools even though though many now have excess capacity?
It is a shame families who want to support year round can't get in.
The post ran in May. Click
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 14:30 — KeungHui (author)The post ran in May. Click here to read it.