A magnet school refers to a public school that draws students (like a magnet) out of a zoned school, into more specialized areas of study. These programs are still public schools under the Arizona Department of Education and local school districts. They are yet another wonderful public school avenue for Arizona families to choose from – and give families more educational opportunity.
Consider Davis Bilingual Magnet School in Tucson. Davis now has around 350 students enrolled in their Dual Language / Spanish Immersion program. Their program is “considered a 90/10 program, in which students in kindergarten and first grade are immersed in a classroom where 90% of the content is delivered in Spanish. The percentage of English increases at each grade level, eventually balancing out at 50/50 in fifth grade.”
Gallego Primary Magnet School, also in Tucson, which includes a primary school that is the only school in the Sunnyside district that is K-3. Gallego Fine Arts “helps emphasize the academic component of what students learn in their core subjects”. They also offer a program called “SUN” Serving Unique Students, which is the gifted and talented program on their campus.
With growing interest in careers in STEM, several Arizona magnet school options include an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math. Centerra Mirage STEM Academy is one such example in Goodyear. Centerra believes in “offering a well rounded STEM education to all students. This means children have daily instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through engaging, hands on activities that help to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.” Families who believe that a STEM education would suit their child have the opportunity to attend schools like Centerra through open enrollment.
At Love Your School, our goal is to celebrate school options in Arizona – and that includes public magnet schools! If you’re interested in searching for school options in your area, consider our School Map Search on our website.
Additional Resources from our Website:
Educational Options in Arizona
How to Afford Private School in Arizona
AZ School Choice: Family Highlights
