The Office of Magnet Programs within Baltimore County (Md.) Public Schools is providing “educational choices to parents of students with different interests, talents, and aptitudes in an environment that enhances students’ educational success,” the program’s website says.
The school district will showcase the magnet programs at the “Magnet Expo” on Saturday, Sept 21, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Crowne Plaza, 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium (map). Several performances and demonstrations are planned from magnet programs across the county.
According to WBAL-TV (NBC affiliate), more than 12,000 students have signed up for various magnet programs already this year. The programs operate in 28 elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Baltimore County, and the district’s central office is using an online application in hopes of handling that much volume.
But handle it they must. Baltimore County Public Schools is the third largest district in Maryland and the 27th largest in the US. It supports 104,331 students in 173 schools, centers, and programs with 8,850 teachers. More than 7,400 high school seniors graduate every year, and many of them enter an increasingly complex work force right out of high school.
Now, although these magnet programs help prepare students for diverse careers, they’re still in school. Students who enroll in a magnet program have to maintain a certain grade-point average, and occasionally, Advanced Placement or honors classes are required in their regular school. But when they’re participating in one of the magnet programs, they’re getting training for a real career and getting a bit more motivation for making school an important part of their lives, as if it weren’t already:
“I take cosmetology very seriously,” WBAL-TV quoted one student as saying. “This is like a career. This is like life. I love this so much. This is like my passion.”
The school system is taking the programs as seriously as the students take them. All the programs, from cosmetology to carpentry, from computer-aided drafting to car repair, from music performance to medical technology, will get some feedback this year from an online survey, meetings, etc.
“It’s very important because the programs are designed to meet the needs of the students and the interest of the students,” the station quoted Brian Stoll with the district as saying. “So, if we don’t know what they’re thinking or what they want, then we can’t give them the programs they need.”
