FAQS about . . . Magnet School Lottery
Here you can find the answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Stamford's Magnet School Lottery process. When is the Lottery?The lottery drawing for Scofield Magnet Middle School will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. The lottery drawing for the Elementary Magnet Schools will be held on Monday, March 24, 2008. Parents are invited to come to the Government Center for the lottery drawing. Parents can also learn their child’s lottery number by calling the Research and Evaluation Office at 977-4198 or 977-4201 after the lottery drawings have been held. How does the lottery process work?Student applications are divided into two groups – Educationally Disadvantaged and Educationally Non-Disadvantaged. Educationally Disadvantaged students:
are Eligible for the federal lunch program;
are English language learners;
or reside in income restricted housing.
Selection for magnet school admission is based on a lottery number as well as category considerations. This combination enables the district to regulate enrollment and balance. The order of admission by category is described below:
- Students residing in the attendance area of a magnet school
- Students with a brother or sister in the magnet school
- Students residing in the “preferred area” of a magnet school (streets close to a magnet school)
- Students residing in the attendance area of a district school identified for “targeted admission” to the magnet schools
- All other students
What is the meaning of “targeted admission” to the magnet schools?“Targeted admission” is offered to incoming kindergarteners from district schools with enrollments that are expected to exceed school capacity. In this way, “targeted admission” is used to anticipate potential crowding. By Febryary 15, the Superintendent will advise the Board of Education of the need for “targeted admission” for 2008-09. Parents of incoming kindergarteners will be informed of which elementary schools, if any, have “targeted admission” status for the coming school year. Do all students have the same chance for admission to a magnet school?No. The lottery process is controlled and works with specified enrollment categories, as described above. For example, a student from a district school identified for “targeted admission” will be accepted to a magnet school before students with lower (i.e. better) lottery numbers from district schools not identified for “targeted admission.”
Also, students residing in the attendance area of a magnet or district school will likely remain in their assigned schools if their departure will create imbalance. By February 15, restrictions on admission of students from selected schools to the magnet schools will be determined and announced. For any additional Magnet School Admissions and Lottery information, please contact:
|