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Magnet Schools and Career & Technical Academies (CTA) - FAQ

Parents, community members, and district staff often have questions about Magnet Schools and CTA's. In an effort to assist school personnel who may not be familiar with the CCSD Magnet and TCA Schools procedures, the following questions and answers were developed.

What are Magnet and CTA programs?

Clark County School District Magnet and CTAs offer learning opportunities related to various themes for interested students. Students from across the district may apply to a Magnet school regardless of the region in which they reside. The purposes of Magnet schools are to improve student achievement, promote diversity, and create an awareness of career opportunities relative to the fields of study in which students may be interested.

What are the admission requirements for a Magnet or CTA program?

At the elementary level, there are no specific requirements to attend a Magnet school. Parents of interested students must submit applications online, mailed and/or hand delivered, to the Magnet Schools Department by the annually specified deadline. If there are more applications than there are seats available, a computerized random lottery will be utilized for student selections.

At the secondary level, entrance criteria have been established for admission to most of the Magnet and CTA programs. Students interested in applying to a Magnet school or CTA should talk with their counselors or contact the specific Magnet or CTA staff to determine if there are entrance criteria for the program(s) of interest. In addition to meeting the entrance criteria for the program to which students are interested, students must submit an application on or before the application deadline. Secondary applications must be submitted online, mailed and/or hand delivered, to the Magnet Schools Department by the annually specified deadline. If there are more qualified applications, than there are seats available, a computerized random lottery will be utilized for student selections.

My child appears to be interested in several Magnet and CTA programs. How do we make the choice?

You are encouraged to acquire as much information about each program as possible. Review the brochures and school publications, interview Magnet or CTA students' parents, visit the schools, talk to school counselors, and go to the Magnet School and CTA website for information.

May my child apply to more than one Magnet or CTA program?

Yes, your child can apply for up to three schools. For some secondary schools the application requires prioritization of program choices.

How can my child apply for a Magnet school or CTA program?

Applications may be completed and submitted online on the Magnet School and CTA Website. Applications are also available at Magnet schools and CTAs, parent information meetings, or other Magnet and CTA events. Application deadlines are specified on applications.

What if my child has a sibling attending the Magnet or CTA school where he/she would like to apply?

It is the intent of the Clark County School District to avoid separating siblings when possible. If a sibling is already enrolled in and attending the Magnet school or CTA to which his/her incoming sibling is applying, and the sibling will continue to be enrolled in the Magnet or CTA program for the coming school year, the CCSD will give a preference for the incoming sibling to attend the Magnet school or CTA.

To be eligible for the sibling preference at the elementary level, the parent or guardian of the sibling must submit a Magnet school application for the incoming sibling to the Magnet Schools and CTA Department by the application deadline. At all grade levels, the district will reserve twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats for siblings. If the siblings who apply comprise more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats, the district will randomly select students to fill the seats. The names of those siblings who are not selected will be placed in the general lottery. If applying students are twins, and if one twin is accepted through the general lottery, the second twin will also be accepted into the program.

To be eligible for the sibling preference at the secondary level, the parent or guardian of the sibling must submit a Magnet School or CTA application for the incoming sibling to the Magnet Schools and CTA Department by the application deadline. The incoming sibling must meet the Magnet or CTA program qualifications to be considered for the sibling preference. At all grade levels, the district will reserve twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats for siblings. If the siblings who apply comprise more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats, the district will randomly select students to fill the seats. The names of those siblings who are not selected will be placed in the general lottery. If the applying students are twins who meet the program qualifications and if one twin is accepted through the general lottery, the second twin will also be accepted into the program.

For purposes of the sibling preference, a sibling is a brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister living in the same household. In the case of foster children, this sibling preference would apply to the inclusion of related siblings within the household. In a group home situation, only those students chosen through the lottery and their related siblings, if they have applied, would be included in the sibling preference.

What if I live in the geographic preference area for a Magnet school or CTA?

Each Magnet school or CTA’s geographic preference area is a geographic area immediately surrounding a Magnet school or CTA that is established by the CCSD Demographics and Zoning Department. In order to be considered as a geographic preference area student, an application must be received by the specified application deadline.

CCSD reserves twenty-five percent (25%) of the seats for students in all grade levels who live in a geographic preference area and who apply for a Magnet or CTA school. To be eligible for the geographic preference at the secondary level the applicant must meet the Magnet or CTA program qualifications. If the geographical preference area students who apply comprise more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats, the district will randomly select students to fill the seats. The names of those students who are not selected will be placed in the general lottery.

Are special education students eligible to attend Magnet or CTA programs?

It is the policy of the Clark County School District to afford equal opportunity in education to qualified students. If the parents think their child has a disability that may affect his/her ability to fully participate in a Magnet or CTA program to which the student is applying, they are encouraged to voluntarily provide information about their child's disability and disability related needs with the application, which will be considered after the initial review committee has completed its application review and will be considered for accommodation purposes only. Admission criteria will not be waived, but accommodations will be made where possible to allow the student to meet the requirements.

Are English Language Learner (ELL) students eligible to attend Magnet or CTA programs?

Yes.

If a student is selected at more than one Magnet school or CTA, will he/she be able to choose which school he/she would prefer to attend?

Yes. Students who apply and are selected to more than one Magnet school or CTA are required to choose one school. This choice is made by signing and returning the Form of Intent which indicates the student's intent to attend the desired Magnet School or CTA. Once this selection is made, the Magnet school or CTA will become the student's school of choice. Student applications for other schools will not be considered.

If my child does not like the Magnet or CTA program, can he/she transfer to his/her zoned school?

Students who are accepted and confirm attendance on the Form of Intent are expected to attend the Magnet or CTA program for at least one school year.

Will my child receive all the educational services available to him/her in a regular school?

A Magnet school or CTA student will receive the educational services that the district provides to students in each of its schools.

Will my child have the opportunity to participate in after-school and extracurricular activities (i.e., football, basketball, etc.) in the Magnet school or CTA?

Since many of the after school activities are closely related to the regular instructional program, every effort will be made to provide Magnet school or CTA students with these opportunities. At Clark, Canyon Springs, Desert Pines, Rancho, Valley, and SECTA high schools, the students may participate in any sports or activities currently offered at that school. The Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association (NIAA) rules and regulations apply. Specific information applicable to students in Magnet schools and CTAs is included in the NIAA Handbook, Regulation 2070.

ATA, ECTA, NWCTA, SWCTA, VTCTA, WCTA, and Las Vegas Academy do not participate in NIAA athletics but offer many extracurricular activities in which students can participate. If a student attends any of the above schools, it is the responsibility of the parent and student to check with the student's zoned school in regard to eligibility for participation in sports and other activities (i.e., football, basketball, etc.). At the CTAs and the Las Vegas Academy, the availability of regular school bus transportation may limit participation in sports on specific days of the week.

Will my child have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities (i.e., cheerleading, pep squads, etc.) at his/her zoned school?

If a student attends a CTA or the Las Vegas Academy, the parent and student must check with the student's zoned school in regard to eligibility for participation.

If my child attends a Magnet program in an elementary or middle school, may he/she continue in these programs at the middle or high school level?

Yes. The district reserves twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats in middle and high school programs for qualifying incoming students who attend the Magnet school theme program at the lower level. If the feeder preference students who apply comprise more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the available seats, the district will randomly select students to fill the seats. The names of those students who are not selected will be placed in the general lottery.

Can my child begin a Magnet or CTA program in high school?

Entrance into many Magnet schools and CTAs is based on specific admission procedures and/or requirements. These may be met without necessarily being enrolled in a Magnet or CTA program prior to middle school or high school.

Are there any costs associated with entrance into Magnet schools or a CTA?

No tuition or entrance fees are charged for admission to Magnet schools or CTAs.

May a home school, private school or charter school student apply to a Magnet school or CTA?

Yes. Students must submit an application on time. If they are accepted and choose to enroll, they must attend the Magnet school or CTA program as full-time students. They are not permitted to take individual classes.

How do I, as a parent, get involved with the school?

Each Magnet school or CTA greatly benefits from parental involvement. Members of parent groups often provide support as classroom aides, tutors, clerical workers, field trip chaperones, fundraisers, and special assistants for certain school functions.

Whom may I contact for more information?

You may call the Magnet Schools Department at 702-799-8492, contact individual Magnet schools or Career & Technical Academies, or visit the Magnet School and Career & Technical Academies Website. You may also send an email to magnetschools@interact.ccsd.net.