Magnet elementary schools

Magnet Schools Office

75 Watervliet Ave., room 112

Albany, NY 12206

Phone: 475-6551

Fax: 475-6550

Spots still available for September;

District continues to accept applications

There are still available seats in the City School District of Albany’s three magnet elementary schools, and families that missed the April 16 lottery deadline are encouraged to apply.

Completed applications will be entered in monthly lotteries to be held until the remaining seats are filled. If you already applied for a spot for next year, there is no need to reapply.

Questions? Call Kathy Futia in the Magnet Schools Office at 475-6551.

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; click on the highlighted text below for the application that applies to your child.  

• General magnet school application in English or en Español -- for families who currently do not have a child in a magnet elementary school.

The magnet lottery was held April 16 in conjunction with the prekindergarten lottery. All magnet prekindergarten seats were filled through the pre-K lottery; the magnet lottery covers kindergarten through grade 5 or 6, depending on the school.

About Albany's elementary magnet schools

Albany's three 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 infusing art, literature, music, drama and government into all subject areas.

• 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.

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.

For the 2013-14 school year, the application deadline will be March 28 and the lottery will be April 16. For more information, call the Magnet Schools Office at 475-6551.