What are "Magnet" schools and can any child attend?

Question

My daughter's only 2 years old. But, we're moving to Florida and I keep hearing the school system there sucks. However, Magnet schools are better.

So, what are these? How are they better?

Mycath-I get all that but i'm doing what's best for my child. Maybe if more people leave the public school systems and go to private and/or magnet schools, people would wake up to the problem. In the meantime, i'm not going to keep my child in a substandard school because other kids may get left out.

Answer 1

Magnet schools usually have a specific theme and use that as a springboard of interest to teach other subjects as well. They usually draw form a wide geographic area.

Do not judge Florida schools until you get there and even then be careful. There are good and bad schools in every state. if possible look a the school systems in determining where you will live.

Answer 2

All children deserve an equal education. Magnet schools deprive children of that by taking public and often substantial private funds to create ultra-funded "public" magnet schools which can only take a limited number of students. For every child who is accepted AND gets a spot by some kind of lottery process, there are many equally deserving students who are left behind at underfunded traditional schools.

The kids forced to go to the traditional schools can be left at schools in desperate need of funding while their peers attend schools with fantastic computer labs, mini radio stations, fancy audio-visual labs, upgraded science equipment...it's sick.

I was part of a team studying magnet schools in Worcester Massachusetts and what we saw would make anyone cry. The magnet schools had technical equipment that you'd be hard pressed to see in some colleges. The public schools had water dripping from the ceilings, rooms without enough desks for the kids, posters made by teachers with misspelled words on them, and my personal favorite, a small ESL class being held in a windowless utility closet with no heating or ventilation system.

Fixing the school situation for just a lucky few is not the answer. So many people think these programs are so wonderful, but they need to open their eyes to the reality of it.

Answer 3

Magnet schools have better programs than public schools. Better funded. However the only way you can get your daughter in there, is to apply. Those schools usually use a lottery system to pick the children who will attend. Some public schools also have become magnet depending on the teachers' qualifications and degrees. Is it better? I would say, it all depends on how many students per classes.

Answer 4

Magnet schools were designed to take 'average' students out of schools where the majority of students were 'less than average' so that they could thrive and not be held back by a classroom of students who need a slower pace. We have one in the south part of town, and it is a very good school.