LANSING, MI -- Many lucky students returning to the Lansing School District (LSD) may experience the highly popular magnet school program. Over the summer the District received a three year, $8.6 million grant from the federal government. The grant, provided through the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program, will allow the district to expand existing programs and launch programs at new schools. In part due to the grant, the number of schools offering magnet programs will grow from six in 2004-05 to nine in 2005-06.

“The Lansing School District is the undisputed leader in the area in offering these exciting education options to parents and students,” Superintendent Dr. E. Sharon Banks. “We are extremely grateful to have received this grant, which will benefit so many of our students by providing us with the resources to nurture their unique talents and skills.”

Magnet schools offer the same emphasis on the core subjects of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies as other Lansing schools. But each magnet school has a central theme to serve as a shared focus and rallying point for students and staff. With the grant, the district will:

Expand the focus to include engineering at the existing Woodcreek Elementary Magnet School for Math, Science, and Technology.

Launch Math, Science, and Engineering magnet programs at Dwight Rich Middle School and Sexton High School.

Offer a Visual and Performing Arts magnet school at Everett High School. The school already has been emphasizing this area.

Continue its plans to offer a new International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Eastern High School. Eastern began offering pre-IB courses in 2004-05 while it undertook the required certification process. International Baccalaureate is the most rigorous high school curriculum in the world, and it is offered by no other school in the area.

Expand the free Montessori program started last year at Wexford Elementary School to the entire school and include pre-school and sixth grade.

With the new programs, students will be able to continue their themed education in a continuum from kindergarten through graduation. Students interested in the visual and performing arts will be able to attend Pleasant View (which is adding seventh and eighth grades in 2005-06) and Everett. Students interested in a math, science, and engineering focus would attend Woodcreek, Dwight Rich, and Sexton.

The district also is transforming Wainwright Elementary School into a new Leadership Academy, although it is not included in the grant. The Wainwright Academy will emphasize leadership skills, offer a highly rigorous academic program, and provide an extended day. Wainwright will serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

A magnet focus program also will continue at Grand River Elementary Magnet School for Literacy, Math, and International Studies, although it will not be funded under the new grant.

Parents can call 325-6277 for information or to apply for enrollment to any magnet program.