Testing L.A.’s magnet schools: Are you satisfied?

The Times today unveiled an interactive database and map that includes test score data for all Los Angeles Unified School District magnet programs. The deadline to apply for magnets is Dec. 18.

Tell us about your experiences with L.A.'s magnet programs. Are you satisfied with the program? Should there be more magnets in L.A. Unified? Is the process to apply too confusing? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

-- Beth Shuster

Comments

[Jeska Cardoso]

What a misleading article. There aren't any test scores provided...just the percentage of students at each magnet school who test proficient in Language Arts and Math. Clicking on the school link doesn't even lead to the magnet school! Why didn't the LA Times do a better job and actually provide more detailed data with a breakdown of each magnet school's API, attendance rates, graduation rates, college acceptance rates, etc. When can we expect that data?

[M Green]

The API scores are there. Just click on the school name.

[Debbie S]

The API scores are not there. The state and the district do not calculate API scores separately for magnet schools that share a campus with a regular school. If you click on the school name, it will take you to the data for the entire school, not just the magnet. In most cases, the regular school students make up the vast majority of the school population. It would be nice to see how they compare to the rest of the LAUSD schools, as well as the charter schools. From the information I have gathered, most of the magnet schools score higher than most of the charter schools and other schools in LAUSD.

[Skye]

I'm a 100% satisfied with our magnet programs. Yeah, having more in LA would be nice to have. No the applying process isn't confusing at all. How you apply based on what level type your applying but they're all easy to understand. I'm not sure what you do for elementary but for middle schools, you get the forms, fill then out and send them. High school, you apply to the school using the E-Choices package before the deadline and wait to get the letter saying whether you've been accepted, denied or palced on a waiting list. The school's acceptance process depends on the school but it's either a lottery draw, first come, first serve, etc...