2012-2013 School Year

Entrance Requirements for Magnet Programs

Entrance requirements exist for certain magnet programs.  Students interested in applying to these magnet programs should meet the requirements for the grade levels indicated or they will forfeit their magnet seat and be returned to their home school.  Any designated entrance requirement must also be met before the sibling guarantee is applied. 

Please note that the Occupational Course of Studies (OCS) curriculum is not offered at Phillip O. Berry, the Military and Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis, and Northwest School of the Arts.  Students in the OCS program cannot be scheduled for OCS courses at these schools.

 Acknowledgement of Magnet Program Entrance Requirements

• An acknowledgement of magnet program expectations and entrance and continuation requirements is required in order to complete and submit an online magnet lottery application.  Individuals submitting a Request for Reassignment/Transfer to a magnet program must acknowledge magnet program expectations and entrance and continuation requirements when they submit the online form, or the request cannot be processed.

Magnet Theme Entrance Requirements

•  International Baccalaureate (grades 6-12) – Students entering middle or high school must be promoted at the end of the school year in which the application is made.  Students entering grades 6, 7, 8 and 9 must score at or above grade level (level III or IV) in Reading and Math proficiency based on EOG tests taken in the school year prior to attending.  Students who retest must meet level III or IV on the first retest.  Students entering grade 10 must score at or above grade level (level III or IV) in English and Math proficiency on EOC tests taken in the school year prior to attending.  In order to enter the IB Program in grade 11, a student must meet the following prerequisites:  English 9; English 10; Geometry; Algebra II; Environmental Science and/or Biology; Chemistry and/or Physics; World History; Civics and Economics; and Level III of Language B (e.g., French, German, Latin or Spanish).  Students entering in grade 11 must apply through the Reassignment/Transfer request and a transcript analysis must be completed by the prospective school.  Only students currently enrolled in an IB Diploma Program will be accepted into grade 12.
  
  
•  Military and Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis (grades 6-12) – Students entering grades 6-12 must submit a statement of interest and participate in a placement interview prior to the end of the lottery application period.  Late interviews will be conducted after this date on a space-available basis, and these students will become part of the wait pool.  Students entering the Academy may not have been previously retained in middle or high school and must be promoted at the end of the school year in which the application is made.  Contact the school for an interview appointment (980-343-0006).
  
  
• Montessori Middle School (grade 7-8) – Current CMS Montessori students have an automatic magnet continuation from grade 6 to grade 7.  Non-CMS Montessori students living in Mecklenburg County are eligible to apply via the Request for Reassignment process.  Non-CMS Montessori students must have completed at least two years of an upper elementary Montessori program or successfully complete a Montessori disposition aptitude assessment at the school. 
  
  
• Northwest School of the Arts (grades 6-12) – Students entering grades 6-12, including current fifth grade Visual and Performing Arts magnet students and current eighth grade NWSA students, must submit a NWSA audition application and successfully participate in a placement audition or portfolio assessment prior to the end of the lottery application period.  Late auditions will be conducted after this date on a space-available basis, and these students will become part of the established wait pool.  Contact the school for audition information (980-343-5500).
  
  
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (grades 4-12) – This magnet theme includes Morehead STEM Academy and Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology. Based on EOG tests taken in the school year prior to attending, students entering grades 4, 5, 7, and 8 must score at or above grade level (level III or IV) on Math proficiency; students entering grades 6 and 9 must score level III or IV on Math and Science proficiency. Students who retest must meet level III or IV on the first retest.  Students entering grade 10 must score at or above grade level (level III or IV) proficiency on Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 EOC tests and must have earned one high school Science credit in the school year prior to attending. Applying students who are taking Geometry must pass and receive credit for the course by the end of the school year.  Students entering in grades 11 and 12 must apply through the Reassignment/Transfer request and a transcript analysis must be completed by the prospective school
  
  
• Talent Development (grades 3-5) – Students entering grades 3-5 must have TD certification for gifted children.  Families seeking more information on TD certification may contact the TD/Advanced Studies Department at 980-343-6955.
  
  
• World Languages – Language Immersion (grades 6-12) – Students entering the Academy of International Languages at grades 6-10 must score level III or IV on Reading proficiency, based on the Reading EOG or English 1 EOC test taken in the school year prior to attending.  Students who retest must meet level III or IV on the first retest.  In addition to the Reading/English proficiency requirement, students entering grade 8 at Oaklawn Academy must have successfully completed Spanish 1.  Students entering grade 9 must have successfully completed the first level of a world language prior to attending, or, be willing to take both level 1 and level 2 of a world language in ninth grade.  Students entering grade 10 must have completed the second level of a world language.  Students entering in grades 11 and 12 must apply through the Reassignment/Transfer request and a transcript analysis must be completed by the prospective school.

 Continuation Requirements to Remain in a Magnet Program

Once students are admitted into a magnet program in middle or high school, they are expected to participate in specific components, to enroll in required magnet courses and to pass the required courses.  This section outlines the continuation requirements to remain in a magnet program. 

Magnet Continuation and Specific Magnet Components                                                                                                                    

1. There are specific magnet components required in certain magnet programs: performance of community service requirement for International Baccalaureate and Military and Global Leadership; promotion to the next grade level in the International Baccalaureate and Military and Global Leadership; adherence to designated school and military uniform attire and grooming standards for Military and Global Leadership; and successful participation in an internship at the Academy of Foreign Language high school program, if that option is selected by student.  If a student does not participate in specific components required of all magnet students, notice will be given at the time of non-compliance by staff responsible for that component for the student to comply immediately.  A timeline for compliance includes two monitoring checks per year as designated by CMS or the magnet school.
   
   
2. If the student does not comply, a parent conference will be held with the student, parent or guardian and school staff representative to discuss non-compliance and develop a plan and timeline for immediate compliance.  The school will monitor and document the student’s progress in fulfilling the required component.
   
   
3. If the student does not complete the specific magnet component(s) according to the plan or if the conference decision is that the student will not participate in the specific magnet component(s), the school will give notice to the student and parent that the school will make a recommendation to the Magnet Programs office to exit the student from the magnet program.  Parent/student acknowledgement of the change of status will be documented.  The family may submit a Request for Reassignment/Transfer to return to the student’s home school.  If the transfer option is not pursued, the student’s schedule will be reviewed and modified so the student is withdrawn from the magnet program but may remain at the school for remainder of the school year.
   
   
4. A new school choice must be made for the next school year.  Prior to and during the magnet lottery application periods, the family may participate in the lottery application process in order to request a new school assignment for the next school year.  After the close of the lottery application periods, the family may submit a Request for Reassignment/Transfer to another school.  Otherwise, the student will be reassigned to the home school at the end of the current school year for the next year.
   
   
5. The student may not remain in the magnet school for the next school year. 

Minimum Course Requirements for Student Continuation in Magnet Programs

Students in CMS magnet programs are expected to fulfill minimum course requirements related to the magnet theme in order to maintain active status as a magnet student and to continue to the next grade level within the magnet program (CMS Board Policy regulation JCA-R). Course requirements listed below are used in maintaining magnet program eligibility for students.

Elementary Schools - Magnet students in grades K-5 are expected to demonstrate conscientious academic effort in their magnet program studies by regularly completing assignments and by participating constructively in lessons, activities, etc. in their respective magnet class and school.  This applies to all elementary magnet school programs.  Students continuing at Morehead Elementary from grade 3 and beyond must participate and compete in all required school-wide Math and Science Fairs/Olympiads and competitions.

 Middle Schools - Magnet students in grades 6-8 are expected to be enrolled in core courses (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science) at each grade level appropriate for their magnet program studies and participate in a minimum of one (1) or two (2) magnet theme-related course(s) per year as designated by CMS course offerings and/or the school.  Magnet theme-related course requirements for middle schools are listed below: