We live in Jefferson Parish and my son attends a Jefferson Parish Public School System Magnet Program. It was a process for us to end up here. It can sometimes feel like we, in the metro New Orleans area, live in a broken school system. Finding a school for your child is hard; it was for me.
Sending my children to a public school and supporting public schools is important to me. It’s something I’ve made a commitment to and I plan to honor it.
Here is a run down on the Jefferson Parish Public School Magnet Programs.
All of this info can also be found on their website, and I have included links below.
There are 13 magnet programs. Each program falls into one of 4 categories ::
- Arts Integration
- French and Spanish Immersion
- International Baccalaureate (IBO)
- STEM
If you live in Jefferson Parish, you have an assigned zone and school. Your child will automatically have a place in your zoned school. If you wish for your child to attend a magnet program, you must be a Jefferson Parish resident and fill out a Magnet Program Application.
The spots at the magnet programs are offered on a first come first serve basis.
Your application, proof of residency and any other additional requirements must be hand-delivered to the school board office during the application window. Check the Jefferson Parish School Board’s website and Facebook page for updates, but usually this window opens in February and closes in April, and final decisions are mailed in May.
Transportation is provided for all magnet programs, regardless if you live in the district or out.
There is no required testing to get into a magnet program for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Students applying for grades 2-11 must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in core subjects (English, reading, math, science, social studies). If applying for a language immersion program in grades 2-8, parents must provide documentation that their child has previously been enrolled in an immersion program OR the student must demonstrate a minimum of 85% proficiency on a grade level target language proficiency test.
I attended a magnet program showcase put on by the Parish, and it was invaluable to learning about each program and what all these schools have to offer. Check the parish website for more information on when this event will be held again, it usually takes place in January each year.
Why Immersion Magnet School Has Been the Right Choice for Our Family
My son currently attends one of the language immersion magnet schools. We have been very happy with his school. He has had wonderful teachers and made lots of friends. His grade has an ideal class size. We have been so happy with the very active PTO and the activities within the school. Our school has been undergoing a remodel, and we now has a big beautiful cafeteria we are very excited for. His principal works hard to get to know the students at her school and her care for the students is obvious. We love the diversity of our school. We are thrilled that our son is learning a second language, a gift we otherwise would not have been able to offer him. There are many school choices in our area, but our family is very happy with the choice we’ve made.