How to Apply for Magnet and Specialty Programs

How do I decide where to apply?

• First look at your child’s interests and needs, and talk to the child’s teachers. Then, visit all schools you are considering, including your zoned comprehensive school. All schools—comprehensive, magnet programs and specialty academies—are built around the same core curriculum in all disciplines and meet all state Standards of Learning. Transportation is provided for all programs. View Open House schedule.

• To find out the comprehensive school to which your child is assigned, call 591-4500 or use our Zone Finder.

How do I apply?

• Request an application from any Newport News public school or from the NNPS Administration Building, 12465 Warwick Boulevard. Download applications online.
• Submit only one application for a child. (See note below for more information.)
• Rising 10th- and 11th-graders must apply directly to the magnet program director.
• To change a selection after submitting an application, you must make all changes in writing before the application deadline.
• Turn in the application at your child’s school, the NNPS Administration Building, magnet fair or any school visitation on or before closing on the application deadline, January 13, 2012. All applications received by this date will be considered "on time."

Note: Parents who want to apply to the same magnet program for more than one child have two choices: (1) If a parent completes one application listing all siblings at that level, the children will be considered for admission as a unit, or (2) if a parent completes separate applications for each child, the children will be considered for admission independently of one another.

How are students selected?

• Applicants are assigned a random lottery number by the computer, and students will be selected based on these numbers.
• Acceptance is based on numerical order and outlined priorities with attention to racial balance.
• All applicants will be notified by mail, usually in mid-February.
• Applicants who are not selected will remain on a waiting list for one year.

For magnet programs, application priority is given in this order to:

1. Students currently enrolled in a magnet program who wish to continue in that program, including students who are moving from elementary to middle school magnets or middle to high school magnets of the same type. For example, students in the Math, Science and Technology magnet at Crittenden have priority for the Engineering and Technology high school magnet.

2. Students who live in the shadow zone for the magnet school. (Shadow zones are available online or by calling 591-4500.)

3. Students who are siblings of students currently enrolled in that program at that specific school. This means, for example, that if you have a seventh grader at Huntington Middle School, your rising sixth grader will be given priority at Huntington.

4. Students living south of Mercury Boulevard but not in the Heritage attendance zone applying for magnet programs at Heritage High School.

5. Other applicants based on their lottery numbers.

Note concerning admission of non-resident students (Outlined in School Board Procedure JFAB-P): Newport News Public Schools students are given first priority for inclusion in magnet programs. Non-resident students cannot enter the lottery for magnet program admission. Non-resident students interested in attending magnet programs will be considered only after the lottery and selection process for resident students has been completed and the steps outlined in School Board Procedure JFAB-P have been completed. Applications for non-resident students may be submitted on August 1.