While we still await the official changeover on the Echoices website for the new magnet season (website opens 10/1/14 and applications are due 11/14/14), Sepulveda Middle School has posted that their yearly “Meet the Middle School Magnets” Night will be October 2 from 6-8 pm. And Monroe has confirmed their Meet the Magnets night will be October 1 from 6 to 8 pm. Please in the comments, share upcoming magnet nights, tours, etc. As time permits, I will make a list within the body of this post. Many schools are already listing dates in September. Let the games begin! And as always, with questions, ask away in the comments as well.
Meet the High School Magnets Night, Monroe HS
October 1, 6-8 pm
Meet the Middle School Magnets Night, Sepulveda MS
October 2nd, 6-8 pm
Indvidual magnet tours (alphabetical)
Check individual schools for any changes:
High School:
Cleveland Humanities Magnet Tours starts at 8:30 am @ Room E10
09/19, 09/24, 10/03 Oct 7, Oct 16, Oct 21, Oct 27 @ 8:30 am
RSVP Link http://www.corebaby.org/enrollment/magnet-tours-sign-up/
Hamilton Magnet High School (Music)
Tours begin Oct 8 and every Wednesday at 8-10 am through November 12. No reservations necessary.
John Marshall Gifted Magnet
Tours @ 10:30-11;30 am
Oct 1, 8, 15
RSVP is required by contact Pat Jeffries at (323) 671-1430 or pmj3914@lausd.net
North Hollywood High School Highly Gifted Magnet
Oct 10, Oct 16, Oct 27
3 tour times to choose from
8:30-10 am; 11 am-12:30 pm; and 1:30-3 pm.
RSVP at (818) 753-6213 between 8-11 am or send email to kmp4366@lausd.net. Make sure you include your name, phone number, the number of people attending and the date/time you wish to attend.
http://highlygiftedmagnet.org/
Venice High School (STEMM & World Languages Magnet)
Tours @ 8:45-10 am in Student Cafeteria
Oct 2, 9, 23, 30
Nov 6, 13
No RSVP is required. Tours are intended for parents ONLY.
http://www.venicehigh.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=399189&id=0
Middle School:
King Middle School Magnet Tours starts at 8:15 @ King Library
Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 13
RSVP Link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dLM29-ARB96t4qnjFKGwj2Em_8wRSbk-k6k1xkt-kWc/viewform
Lawrence Gifted Magnet
Magnet Informational Tours:
Wednesday, October 8
Tuesday, October 21
Wednesday, October 29
Wednesday, November 5
Monday, November 10
No reservations needed.
Students are welcome to attend.
All tours begin at 8:00am in the Lawrence Middle School Library
LACES Open House Oct 22
9-11 am (No RSVP required)
Click to access Open%20House%20Flyer%202014.pdf
Millikan Middle School
Tours begin in the library.
They are held at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
They last approximately an hour and a half.
http://www.millikanmiddleschool.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=399312&id=0
Because of on school construction, tours are limited to those who register. Please register.
Nobel Middle School
All Tours are from 9-11:30 am in Multi-Purpose room
Sept 29, Oct 1, Oct 6
RSVP at magnet office 818-773-4730
Palms Gifted Magnet
Tours begin @ 9 am in Auditorium
Oct 6, Oct 24, Nov 3
April 13th, 2015 (after magnet deadline)
NO RSVP is required.
http://www.palmsmiddleschool.org/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1283110966319
Porter Gifted Magnet
Tours @ 8:15-10:15 am
Dates are: Oct 8; Oct.16; Oct. 22, Oct. 27
Portola Highly Gifted Magnet Tours start at 8:30 am
Oct 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10
http://www.portolams.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=44622&type=d&pREC_ID=129758
Paul Revere Magnet
Tours @ 9-10:30 am
Sept 18, Oct 9, Nov 6
http://www.paulreverems.com/domain/179 (they have more tour dates after deadline for charter lottery)
Mark Twain World Language Magnet
Tours begin @ 8:30 am every Wednesday in the Principal’s Conference Room
Sept 17, 24
Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Nov 5
http://twainms-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/news_item?d=x&id=1332658360138&group_id=1315231276141&return_url=1410286594708
Elementary School:
Braddock Drive Gifted & High Ability Magnet
Tours starts at 8:30 am in the magnet office. No RSVP is required.
Oct 7, Oct 21, Nov 4
Community Magnet Charter School
Tours @ 9-10:30 am
Oct 23, Nov 10
Eagle Rock Gifted & High Ability Magnet
Tours @ 8:30 am
Oct 20, Nov 3 in Auditorium
Nov 6 in Room 3
Eagle Rock Highly Gifted Magnet
Tours @ 8:30 am
Oct 21, Nov 4 in Auditorium
Oct 30 in Room 3
Open Charter Magnet Elementary School
Oct 28, Nov 4 at 8:30 am
http://www.opencharter.org/node/1305
Vintage Magnet Elementary School
In Main Office
9 am Oct 13, Oct 20, Oct 27
1:15 pm Nov 3
Welby Way Gifted & High Ability Magnet Tours
Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 10
RSVP at 818-992-8229
Click to access Magnet%20Tour%20Poster%20August%20%202014.pdf
Ask A Magnet Yenta 
Cleveland Humanities Magnet Tours starts at 8:30 am @ Room E10
09/19, 09/24, 10/03
RSVP Link
http://www.corebaby.org/enrollment/magnet-tours-sign-up/
King Middle School Magnet Tours starts at 8:15 @ King Library
Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 13
RSVP Link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dLM29-ARB96t4qnjFKGwj2Em_8wRSbk-k6k1xkt-kWc/viewform
LACES Open House Oct 22
9-11 am (No RSVP required)
Click to access Open%20House%20Flyer%202014.pdf
Portola Highly Gifted Magnet Tours start at 8:30 am
Oct 13, 20, 27
Nov 3, 10
http://www.portolams.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=44622&type=d&pREC_ID=129758
Welby Ways Gifted & High Ability Magnet Tours
Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 10
RSVP at 818-992-8229
Click to access Magnet%20Tour%20Poster%20August%20%202014.pdf
Nobel Middle School (Math/Science Magnet)
All tours are from 9-11:30 am in the Multipurpose Room
Tour dates: Sept 29, Oct 1, Oct 6
RSVP at 818-773-4730
http://nobelmiddleschool.us/pages/Alfred_B_Nobel_Middle_School/Magnet_School
Community Magnet Charter School
Tours start at 9 am
Tour dates: Oct 23, Nov 10
Sepulveda Gifted Magnet
Tours @ 9 am in Room 6
Tour Dates: 10/9, 10/13, 10/22, 10/31, 11/5, 11/5, 11/13
http://www.sepulvedams.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?userGroupREC_ID=29526&uREC_ID=29526&type=d&title=Magnet+School&un=ESD-Mag
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (SOCES)
Tours start at 9:30 am @ Glenn Hall
Tour Dates: Sept 18, Oct 9, Oct 29, Nov 8
No RSVP is required
Click to access Parent%20Tour%20Info%202014.pdf
Is the event at Sepulveda an introduction to all magnets or just the one at Sepulveda.
Many of the middle school magnets in the Valley and some further out: Lawrence, Nobel, Sepulveda, Millikan and many more.
Help! We may be moving to the Glassell Park area in January and would be new to LAUSD. I am completely overwhelmed with all the “choices.” Our local school would be Fletcher Elem which does not look like a good fit for my white female 1st grader. Any ideas where I should begin for a mid year transfer? Then I can move on to figuring out next year… I appreciate any help!
I don’t think you will be able to get into a magnet mid-year since you haven’t applied.
Your post doesn’t give much info as to what you are looking for or what part of Glassell Park you live in or how far you would travel. I live in Glassell Park and my assigned school is Toland Way, but I take my son to a Dual Language school in Highland Park – Aldama.
Maybe you could look at Delevan or Dorris Place?
There are a couple schools in Eagle Rock you might be comfortable with. Silver Lake schools perhaps. They would be too far for me, so I don’t know much about them.
The Magnet office has posted this list of magnet fairs on their FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/notes/student-integration-services/student-integration-services-district-fairs/280911685449312?notif_t=notify_me
Carthay School of Environmental Studies Magnet tours will be October 9th and November 6th, both at 8:30 am. Relaxed parking will be arranged.
Balboa Gifted & High Ability Magnet
Four tours will be held this year.
Oct 28th, 30th
Nov 3rd, 5th
Please call the school office at 818-349-4801 to RSVP.
Kester Gifted & High Ability Magnet
Tours @ 8:30 am in Auditorium
Oct 18th, Nov 5th
32nd Street St. USC Performing Arts Magnet
Tours every Tuesday in Oct from 8:30 am-9:30 am
Eagle Rock Middle & High School (Gifted & High Ability Magnet)
Oct 10 from 8-10 a.m.
Oct 22 from 1:30-3 pm
Nov 6 from 8-10 a.m.
RSVP link: https://www.erhs.la/forms/openhouse/
Hamilton High School (Humanities Magnet)
Tours will begin either in the Auditorium or the library.
Tours will take place every Wednesday at 10:30 AM in the library starting Oct. 8th 2014 and running through Nov.12th , 2014
Melrose Math & Science Magnet Elementary School
Tours Dates Oct 21, Oct 28 @ 8:30-10 am
You may enter Formosa Street for parking at 8:15 am
North Hollywood Zoo Magnet
Prospective Students Open House on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 from 9-11 am at our campus in Griffith Park, adjacent to the Los Angeles Zoo.
No reservations are required. For more information visit zoomagnet.org, or call (323) 660-0165.
Valley Alternative Magnet School
K-12 tour – Friday, October 3rd @ 9:00 am
K-9 tour – Thursday, October 9th @ 9:30 am
K-12 tour – Wednesday, October 15th @ 9:00 am
K-9 tour – Tuesday, October 21st @9:30 am
K-12 tour- Monday, October 27th @ 9:00 am
Location: Support Services Offices
Additional Information: (818) 342-6133, Sandi Davis, sad7872@lausd.net
Can anyone comment on the differences between Woodland Hills Elem and Balboa Elem? My son is currently at Woodland Hills in the SAS program. I am exploring whether to look into Balboa or stay put. Any thoughts on school culture and vibe, parent relations, communication, things aside from the obvious gifted standpoint? I would especially like to hear from a parent whose kid went to both. Compare and contrast. What differences do you notice in your child’s state of mind? Work ethic? Personality? Thank you, Parents!
Hello, I am not sure where to post comments, ask suggestions, etc.
My son will be in Kindergarten 2015/16. Our home school is Emelita (Encino) but he has already been tested as Gifted. He’s been reading since 2 and from what we can tell, has a near photographic memory.
We have been thinking of just enrolling him at Emelita and supplement on the side (although we’re afraid he’d be bored during academics) while applying for Magnets starting with 1st grade (Balboa is close and a great option) or we have also considered applying for Valley Alternative for Kinder and if we get wait-listed, at least we’d have some points.
Suggestions? Thoughts?
A few thoughts.
Applying for Valley Alternative is not a bad idea. If you get in, you could conceivably turn it down and be in the same position as if you’d never applied, so there’s no down side to applying.
If your son is gifted, LAUSD has to determine it. They’re picky that way. Attending an LAUSD school (either Emelita or any other LAUSD school) will allow you to ask for testing, but it won’t happen until likely sometime in first grade. But a kinder teacher can say he meets criteria which will allow you to apply for Balboa (or even an SAS) for first grade.
Wherever you attend kinder, you will likely augment, because you realize early on that children come to kindergarten with a wide variety of skill sets. When you register, hopefully the kindergarten does some kind of testing (some elementaries loosely assess where kids are when they start). If not, let them know you believe he’s gifted and encourage them to place him in a class with a teacher who will differentiate. Keep in mind that nearly every parent entering kindergarten swears their children are gifted, so this is not only something they hear every day, it’s something that isn’t always true.
Once you’re in kinder, and if you apply to magnet, or opt for an SAS program, we can employ strategies at that point to help you get in.
Good luck.
It sounds like my son and I were in your situation last year. Welby Way and Woodland Hills Elementaries offer SAS for Kindergarten. Passing a test is required to be put in the lottery pool. I had a better experience at Woodland Hills and, thankfully, they accepted my son. Academically, the class is behind what we are doing at home, so I do supplement at home and am seeking information on the advantages Balboa may offer, if any, for first grade. Good luck.
Where do you apply for SAS who administers or schedules the testing?
Encino charter and lanai both look like they offer this. Both are really close by.
The time to apply is early next year. This is magnet season right now. SAS comes after. You definitely want to watch for tours and try to attend. When the application is available for 2015/2016, you will be able to find it everywhere; on this site, LAUSD’s site, and the school’s website. From here on out you work directly with the school. You print it out and return one to each school separately. I stapled samples of work we did at home to the application as requested, but they told me for K it didn’t really matter. At the same time you drop it off, they will give you an appt for testing.
SAS windows are typically in the Spring after magnet applications occur. Unlike magnet apps, you can apply to as many SAS schools as you choose (as Inthemiddle said, at each individual school). SAS schools are compartmentalized gifted programs offered at certain schools. Kids from that neighborhood get first dibs, but all additional spots go by lottery. Magnets offer busses outside 2 miles in elementary, 5 in middle and high school. SAS does not. In nearly 20 years of LAUSD, we’ve driven.
Each school does their own testing? I wonder why its not centralized.
How is the pool for the SAS slots? More difficult than regular track lottery? Worse odds than a Magnet?
SAS are run independently, and their ‘testing’ will vary. By the time they get to middle school, schools look at grades, test scores, gifted testing, etc. The problem is that kinders don’t have any of that, so they have to come up with ways to admit the kids to these ‘schools for advanced studies.’ I wouldn’t get hung up by the word testing. Essentially the kids at regular elementaries and SAS schools are being assessed–can they read? Do they know their colors and numbers? Can they follow directions? And that is a big one. When they build the classes, they are trying to make a mix of oldest and youngest, boys and girls, active kids and good listeners, etc. The testing is not going to be what your psychologist assessed.
SAS spaces vary, but because there are so many more of them, starting as early as kinder, there is a greater chance that you will get in one of those rather than the 72 or so spots at Balboa when thousands are applying.
As soon as he’s tested within LAUSD, you might want to look at San Jose Highly Gifted Magnet if he meets the criteria. There does seem to be more room there (fewer applicants for the spaces they have).
I have a “points” question. I just spoke with the LACES magnet office. When I asked how many points a kid typically needs to get in, she said 19. I asked where those points come from (over the 16), if not everyone is a sibling. She said a kid gets three points for sending in the application. Has anyone heard of that? Isn’t that the same as saying a kid needs 16 points? (I also asked if white v. minority, or vice versa, need more points for admission, and she said it’s the same. I’m a little skeptical, just because they have to maintain the 70/30 diversity…)
No on the app. 19 would be for siblings. And some schools are equally diverse, and there is no advantage. While some schools are very eager to get one group or the other to apply, others have equal applicaitons. Lawrence Middle School said it was no difference on what to apply. Millikan several years back said it was better to be white.
Thanks, magnetangel. I’m just trying to get my head around the fact that even though a school accepts more minority kids, it’s not an advantage to apply as minority; but maybe they get fewer applications from white students? Anyway, it will be what it will be. š
I can’t seem to get a straight answer from ANYBODY at the schools we are interested in, regarding our ability to fill in THREE choices on our eChoices form. I have heard rumors that if you choose more than one school to apply to, you will NOT be placed on the waitlist for the choice you type in the #1 spot… True?
Here’s the straight answer. If you apply to more than one school, they check the first school. If there’s no room, they check the second. If still no room they go to the third. At that point, you will be placed on the wait list for the first school ONLY. I *highly* discourage the use of options 2 and 3 unless they are completely equal in your mind. If you like school A a lot more, and you get into school B, you have no recourse to get back onto a list for school A.
I hope that’s clearer. If you apply to more than one school you can be surprised and end up going to a school you only had marginal interest in. If that’s the case, fill out ONE choice on the app, and then afterward walk in apps to those other schools. But again, as soon as one calls you, you’re no longer eligible for school one.
Since most people are much more interested in one over another, I do not suggest applying to more than one.
Thank you so much! How do walk-ins work? Same deadline? You just walk in the paper version of the form?
No, the website will let you know when you want to do walk ins (sometime in the 2nd semester, I’m sure). It’s a different form although probably very similar.
If you are accepted to #2 or #3, then no. You can’t decline and stay wait listed for #1. If none accept you, you are only on the wait list for #1.
I have a points questions. Last year my son had 4 points because he went to a PHBAO school. He ended up on a waiting list(4 more points this year). This year he is still at a PHBAO school. So this year will he get another 4 points?
Also, can anyone share their opinions on Balboa vs. Community Charter vs. Vintage?
Thanks!
The PHBAO points are for your residential school, not necessarily where he attends. They do not accrue.
If you have 4 points for PHBAO and 4 waitlist points, you will have 8 points.
I am about to apply to choices for magnet middle schools and noticed that 4 points are awarded when: the 2015-2016 resident LAUSD school is designated as overcrowded by District criteria, and is currently sending Capacity Adjustment Program (CAP).
I have a different household from my child’s mother and her address may have such a resident LAUSD middle school. How can I determine if a middle school is overcrowded / CAP? I can use either address for the eChoices application. Our daughter lives at both households 50% of the time.
Call the magnet office downtown. My understanding is there is only one or maybe two such schools in the entire district anymore. Since there is one school still on the year-round schedule, there just aren’t many that get the points. But if you have questions, the magnet office can tell you for sure.
For the magnet application, you will need to use the address on record at your child’s school.
You can see PHBAO and overcrowded school list here:
http://achieve.lausd.net/Page/1958
Only 8 schools were on overcrowded list last year
They’ve expanded the definition from when it was just schools on the Concept 6 calendar. Keep in mind, this list is from last year, and the list can change every year. So use this as a guideline but not as a guarantee.
Do you retain earned rejection points (in our case 4 from rejection at Valley Alternative for K) if you lay out of the application season one year? Our situation: We are now only interested in applying to the gifted-ha magnet at our current school if our child is identified in the future.
Rejection points for up to 3 years. After that, those older years drop off. You can’t accumulate more than 12 points (3 years) of rejection/wait list points. Sit out with confidence. š
So how do people earn 16 points?
Multiple ways. Matriculating is worth 12. So is 3 years of rejection points. If your neighborhood school is PHBAO, that’s 4. If your school is on that very limited overcrowded/CAP school list, that’s 4. Sibling is 3. So, conceivably 23 is the highest. Realistically 19 is rare and 16 is a really high norm. Many schools accept at 8 points or less. First grade starts, like Balboa can go down to 4 or 0.
I just got a confirmation letter via email and I see that our next school of residence is incorrect. They put a school in our area that is enrollment by application only, not the general high school we would default to if no applications was submitted. I have read somewhere on this site that it is your current school of residence that counts for PHBAO points and not the school you are going to attend (if you are moving on to a new school level). So if we are going into 9th grade, which school will we receive PHBAO points for, the current resident middle school or the high school of residence for next year?
Also is it too late to have the form corrected? I did not input that information, I could not even correct it on the online form. The email was sent at 2:00 today, but of course I didn’t open it until after 5:00 when the integration office was closed. And due to the holiday weekend, they won’t be open until Monday.
FWIW, our school listed is a school of choice as well. If you are concerned that it might make a difference on your application, go ahead and call the magnet office on Tuesday (I wouldn’t bother with Monday, they’ll be swamped).
The neighborhood school is what counts for the PHBAO designation, but with these zones of choice, who knows what their priority is if a kid can’t get get in without applying, that hardly seems like the neighborhood school.
One other point of clarification, is it the 8th grade school of residence or the 9th grade school of residence that counts for the PHBAO points?
Try to remember it this way:
They will be looking at the school where the desegregation will be taking place.
So for HS (a 9th grader), they are looking at your neighborhood HS even though your child is currently a middle schooler.
As always . . . Thank you!!
Although not a magnet, have you heard at Richland Ave. El SAS just started a French Immersion program!!!!! It will begin in August this year!!!!!!