MOBILE, Ala. — Families hoping to enroll a child in one of Mobile County Public Schools’ nine magnet schools have until 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, to submit an application, as the district’s MCPSS magnet school application portal is now open.
The school system describes its magnet programs as among the top-performing schools in Alabama. Each school is built around a central theme, and students take accelerated coursework connected to that focus, whether it is math and science, the arts, world studies or a traditional, back-to-basics approach.
The nine MCPSS magnet schools
The district’s magnet lineup includes three elementary schools, five middle schools and one high school:
Elementary schools
- Council Traditional School
- Eichold-Mertz School of Math, Science and Technology
- Old Shell Road School of Creative & Performing Arts
Middle schools
- Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
- Clark-Shaw School of Math, Science & Technology
- Denton Magnet School of Technology
- Dunbar School of Creative & Performing Arts
- Phillips Preparatory School
High school
- LeFlore Magnet
Key date: Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.
The application window closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 — less than three weeks from now. Families who are considering a magnet school should not wait until the final day, since last-minute technical problems, missing documents or questions about eligibility can be difficult to resolve with the deadline looming.
Parents and guardians with questions about entrance requirements, how students are selected, transportation or which grade levels are accepting new students should contact Mobile County Public Schools or the individual school directly before submitting an application.
Background: what is a magnet school?
Magnet schools are public schools that offer a specialized curriculum or a distinctive theme designed to “attract” students from across a school district rather than serving only the children who live in a particular attendance zone. Because they are part of the public school system, magnet schools do not charge tuition.
The magnet school model spread across the United States in the 1970s, when many districts used the specialized programs to encourage voluntary integration by drawing families from different neighborhoods to the same campus. Over the decades, magnet schools have become known more broadly for offering focused academic programs — in subjects such as science and technology, the performing arts, international studies or college preparation — that may not be available at a student’s neighborhood school.
Most magnet programs require families to apply, and many have academic or other admission criteria. The specific requirements and selection process vary from district to district and sometimes from school to school, which is why families are encouraged to review the details for each MCPSS magnet program before applying.
A range of themes
The names of Mobile County’s magnet schools offer a quick glimpse of the options available to families:
- Math, science and technology: Eichold-Mertz at the elementary level, along with Clark-Shaw and Denton at the middle school level, carry a science, math or technology focus in their names.
- Creative and performing arts: Old Shell Road at the elementary level and Dunbar at the middle school level are dedicated to the arts.
- World studies: Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies focuses on a global perspective. The historic Barton Academy building on Government Street in downtown Mobile dates to the 1830s and is one of the oldest public school buildings in Alabama.
- Traditional and preparatory programs: Council Traditional School and Phillips Preparatory School round out the elementary and middle school options.
- High school: LeFlore Magnet is the district’s magnet option for high school students.
Tips for families before applying
While the process is handled through the district’s online portal, families can make the experience smoother by taking a few steps ahead of time:
- Decide which school or schools best match your child’s interests and strengths, and talk with your child about the themes each program offers.
- Gather your child’s basic information, such as current school, grade level and any recent report cards or test results that might be requested.
- Note the 5 p.m. Oct. 26 deadline on your calendar and plan to apply several days early.
- Contact the school system or the magnet school with any questions about requirements or the selection process.
For many Mobile County families, magnet schools offer a way to match a child’s interests with a specialized program inside the public school system. With the portal open now, the next few weeks are the window to apply.
