Dual Mission of Magnet Schools

Upper class parents and students have always had choice, whether it is private schools, boarding schools, parochial schools or good public schools in affluent neighborhoods. In some instances, there were excellent specialty public schools prior to magnet school movement, such as New York CityÆs High School of Music and Art, or Bronx High School of Science, that accepted studentÆs on merit and talent. But these options were essentially for the select few. In the more than three decades since the establishment of magnet schools, many opinions have been given regarding their effectiveness

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hoice and quality education, and have helped promote desegregation. Even in areas where racial balance is not possible to achieve because of demographics, such as the all-black school district of East Orange, New Jersey, magnets in the district still offer a choice of school and specialty education, and therefore play an important role in the revitalization of public schools (Checkley, 1997). A study in the late 1990s,regarding the impact of magnet schools on desegregation, found that 47 percent of magnet schools met the federal desegregation requirements. Still, thatÆs almost half the schools, a much larger percentage than existed prior to magnet schools (Checkley, 1997). Magnet schools, after all, have always had two purposes: to attain racial balance and to enhance student achievement by creating an exciting learning environment. Unlike earlier times, todayÆs schools are impacted by government, parental demands, technology and even business interests. Societal issues impinge on magnet schools. One of the appeals of magnet schools is career preparation so that graduating students can take their place in society. In California, for example, the New Technology High School is partially funded by business partnerships. Helping stud
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Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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