graphic masthead of boy and City School District of Alabny logo graphic link to Board of Education pages graphic link to school directory pages
box bullet

HOME

box bullet

Albany A-Z

box bullet

Academics

box bullet

Albany Booster Club and School PTAs

box bullet

Albany Fund for Education

box bullet

A-PLUS Program

box bullet

Athletics

box bullet

Calendar

box bullet

Employment

box bullet

Feedback

box bullet

Grants and Program Development

box bullet

Hall of Fame

box bullet

Library

box bullet

Music

box bullet

News

box bullet

Professional Development

box bullet

Programs and Services

box bullet

Search Our Site

box bullet

Strategic Plan:

'A Vision for Tomorrow'

box bullet

Student Registration

box bullet

Volunteering

 

Magnet schools

 

Magnet Schools Office

141 Western Ave., room 114
Phone: 475-6551

Fax: 475-6550
 

About Albany's elementary magnet schools

Albany's magnet elementary schools give families a real choice in public education. Students have a unique opportunity to deeply explore enriched, theme-based programs in specific areas.

 

Magnet schools are open to children citywide and enrolled by two random lotteries: one for prekindergarteners and one for older students. Families need to apply for the lotteries, which are held in the spring.

 

Click on its highlighted name below to learn more about each school.

  • Albany School of Humanities (ASH). Serving prekindergarten through grade 6. ASH teaches about diverse cultures by studying art, literature, music, drama and government, in conjunction with English, math, science and social studies.

  • Montessori Magnet School. Serving prekindergarten through grade 5. Students here are taught with the Montessori philosophy that each child learns at his or her own pace, using all five senses.

  • Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST). Serving prekindergarten through grade 5. TOAST emphasizes science and technology across all subject areas.

Applications available for 2012-13 magnet elementary school lotteries

As of Feb. 1, families can complete applications for the lottery that will assign their kindergarten-grade 5/6 child to a magnet elementary school for the 2012-13 school year.

 

Click on the highlighted text for a general lottery application.

 

Although the lottery is random, siblings of children currently enrolled in any of the magnet schools are given preference and a separate application is required. Click on the highlighted text for an application for a child with a sibling at Albany School of Humanities (ASH), a sibling at Montessori Magnet School or a sibling at Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST).

 

Applying to magnet schools
Admission to Albany's magnet schools is done through two random lotteries -- one for prekindergarten, and one for grades kindergarten through 5/6.

 

Student selection in the lottery is random, but certain factors take priority when determining where children will be placed:

  • Neighborhood Preference -- Children who reside within designated magnet-school attendance zones are given admission preference within the lottery system according to the current district neighborhood preference policy.

  • Sibling Preference -- Siblings of students currently enrolled in any of the three magnet schools are given admission preference within the lottery system.

  • Special Education -- Placement of students who receive special-education services, including placement in integrated classrooms, must be determined by the Committee on Special Education since students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are placed into appropriate programs based on the committee's recommendations.

Families must apply to the lotteries, both of which will be April 17. Applications for kindergarten-grade 5/6 are available now (see section above). Prekindergarten applications will be available March 1.

Application deadline is March 30. New applications received after the lottery drawings are handled on a space-available basis. For more information, call the Magnet Schools Office at 475-6551. 

 

graphic header for quick links

 

Link to Board of Ed page Link to Directory page Link to Our Schools page