The LAUSD Magnet application for 2022-23 will open October 1, 2021. Deadline is November 12.
Many questions can be answered here: https://echoices.lausd.net/Magnet/#gsc.tab=0
Feel free to ask additional questions in the comments and our volunteers will respond if they have direct experience.
Ask A Magnet Yenta 
I am looking for some feedback about Hale Magnet STEAM program. The program is pretty new, so I will appreciate any king of information, both about the program itself, how it compares to other gifted magnet middle school programs, and about Hale school/campus in general because I have read people talking about bulling there. Thank you!
Hopefully someone currently at Hale can comment on the school atmosphere, but I think it’s important to say that *all* schools have students who bully. There are schools that handle the overall climate better, but all schools have bullies. When I read a parent say that there is no bullying at a school, it simply means their child has not mentioned it or is not affected by it personally. Bullying is like drugs or fights at a school. There may be ways to handle it, and it may not occur often, but there’s not a school that doesn’t have a bully or where students are never bullied. You may read about it, but the best thing is to go on a tour and ask how the school handles bullying. A school leader who says there is no bullying on their campus is a school leader I would thank and leave. A school leader who says how they address keeping sixth graders safe and then lists multiple programs such as keeping sixth grade classrooms together, only having sixth graders in certain periods for PE, and letting sixth graders out early for lunch for a few weeks at the beginning of the year–that’s a school that knows how to put younger students into a safer position.
Thank you very much, this makes sense. I am concerned about bulling because if we choose Hale, my son most likely will not know anybody there initially since we do not live in that area.
Do you know how the steam magnet at Hale compares to other gifted magnet programs?
Hi! I have a logistical question related to eChoices. My daughter is in 4th grade at a magnet. If she applies to a different magnet in eChoices and gets in, is she automatically dropped from her current magnet? Thank you!
Yes. Do NOT apply to a new magnet while attending a magnet program unless you want your child to be moved. There is no grace period or “thinking about accepting.” You would not need to apply in order to get “wait list” point, so unless you want your child to attend the other magnet, put the application away. Spots in fourth and fifth grade are sparse, but many people do not pull their kids before graduation so schools move through waitlists quickly. The only example I can think of is if this is an “off” year at a span school (4-12, for instance) and you are looking to get in for 5th grade). But kids rarely want to leave their friends for 5th grade (or miss graduation), so unlike a surprise acceptance for magnet school where you would get at least a few days to consider, this decision would be final.
Apologies if this is not the right place for this question, but what is the process for starting a dual language immersion program at, say, your neighborhood school? I am assuming it is difficult but was just curious if anyone had experience/info.
Longtime appreciator of this site and your efforts. I have a question about valley alternative magnet–is it now called Lake Balboa Prep on the Magnet application? I didn’t see anything named Valley Alternative Anything. Trying to get points for my soon to be middle schooler. Many thanks!
There was a name change a few years ago. Just be aware that span schools do tend to lose students as the years go on and you may be selected,
Hi! I have a question about Science Stem Magnet. My daughter has 12 points applying for 6th grade. I’m unsure whether to add a second choice magnet school to her e-Choices application. Basically, if she doesn’t pass the Science Stem assessment test, then it would be good to have a backup magnet choice. But if she passes the assessment but doesn’t get in through the first round of acceptances, then having a second choice would prevent her from getting into Science Stem off the waitlist. Any insight would be appreciated! If 12 points is safe to get into Science Stem on the first round, then I’m inclined to add a second choice school. Thanks!
Thanks all for helping with the magnet process! I’ve applied not consecutively for my kids, they are at a charter currently, and very happy. But the charter goes through 8th and we will need some points for HS. 2 questions
1 – suggestions for a school to apply to for MS (we are in the Valley)?
2 – how do I see the points that my kids have? Somewhere on the choices site, but not sure where!
Hi, dad of a kindergartner here, a little confused by the process. We’re happy at our neighborhood elementary school, but are possibly thinking magnet for middle school. As I understand it, magnet points only last for three years, so with the goal of accumulating as many points as possible going into the application for 6th grade, should we NOT apply this year, since any points we accumulate in this cycle won’t count when sixth grade applications come around, and will only increase our chances of getting admitted in the next few years, when we want to be accumulating points to use on that sixth grade year?
You’re right not to start yet. If you start in second for third, third for fourth, and fourth for fifth, when you apply in fifth, assuming you have been rejected each year, you will have your points. Please keep in mind that more and more anecdotal evidence shows that students get in with fewer points. Best of luck.
I looked on the Highland Park section and didn’t see any current discussion re: local magnets (the last comment there appeared to be from 2008). Can anyone offer insight into the STEM magnet in Buchanan St Elementary, San Pascual STEAM, or Arroyo Seco Museum Magnet? I’d also be considering trying to apply over the hill to Eagle Rock Elementary (which has a gifted/talented magnet starting at 2nd grade, so we’re definitely too early for that since we’re just at the TK stage now, but would like to minimize school moves in the future if it can be helped).
We do hope that some newer Yentas can weigh in as we are Valley based.
My daughter went to Eagle Rock Elementary Highly Gifted Magnet. They also have a Gifted Magnet that is separate. The Highly Gifted Magnet is small (only 2 teachers that take two grades each), and the classes were also small a few years ago (about 15-19 students each). We liked the Highly Gifted program and heard good things from parents about the Gifted program. It’s a huge campus though for Elementary and there’s a lot going on so the cafeteria gets really crowded, bathrooms messy, pickup and dropoff crazy etc.
Hello. I have question. If the kid received 99 on OLSAT and after that he will have an intellectual ability assessment with a district psychologist, in most cases what score he will get at psychologist assessment? I know every kid is different, but just curious what a chance for this kid to be identified as “highly gifted” by psychologist.
Do we know1) whennnn in March we will hear on eChoices? And 2) when does Reed IHP announce admissions?
Well, IHP admissions arrived this weekend and to my surprise we got in! Can anyone share experiences/comparisons between Reed IHP and King Gifted Magnet?
Congrats! I don’t have any personal experience with the King Gifted program, but my daughter went to the IHP and had a great experience — dedicated teachers who are committed to the program, and the “academies” setup meant she didn’t feel lost in a big middle school. Also, the music program is amazing — they take students at any (or no) experience level, provide them with instruments, and turn them into musicians! She’s at the North Hollywood Highly Gifted Magnet now, and feels that the IHP prepared her really well for that very challenging program.