Frequently Asked Questions About the Magnet School Application and Placement Process

Who may attend a magnet school?
Those eligible to apply for a spot in a magnet school are any student living in St. Louis City and non-African American students living in participating school districts in St. Louis County. The participating school districts in St. Louis County are Affton, Bayless, Brentwood, Clayton, Hancock Place, Kirkwood, Ladue, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Parkway, Pattonville, Ritenour, Rockwood, Valley Park and Webster Groves. St. Louis County students are not eligible for the magnet preschool program.

Which magnet school is best for my child?
Only you can decide.  Consider your child's interests and abilities, and learn about the school options available to you.  Contact the school for a personal tour.  The school staff will be happy to answer specific questions you may have about their program.

How will I know you received my applications?
You will receive an e-mail verifying that your application was successfully completed on-line.  

What are my child's chances of being accepted to a magnet school?
Acceptance rates vary from year to year; there are always more applicants than available spaces.  Usually about one-third of city applicants and about one-half of county applicants are accepted.

How will I find out if my child is accepted?
Placement Notifications will be e-mailed after the lottery.  Follow any instructions in the e-mail regarding accepting the seat.

What if I change my mind after my child is accepted?
City families should inform the Recruitment and Counseling Center in writing.  If you reject the acceptance, your child will be assigned to his or her neighborhood school.  County families should notify the VICC Office at 314.721.8422 ext. 3012.

What if my child is not chosen through the lottery?
Your child's name is placed on a waiting list.  If additional spaces become available during the school year, you will be notified.  In the meantime, county students can remain at their current school. Applications do not carry over from year to year.

What if my child is not accepted to his or her first choice?
If you applied to more than one school, and your child is accepted to his or her second choice, that is the school he or she will be eligible to attend in the 2017-2018 school year.  His or her name will NOT go on the waiting list for your first choice. 

If you are still interested in being considered for your first choice school, you must submit a new application to go on that school's waiting list.

Once my child is accepted, do I need to reapply each year?
No.  Once your child is accepted, you do not have to reapply each year, presuming he or she will be continuing at the same magnet school and continues to meet eligibility criteria.

	Students graduating from 2nd grade at Stix or Wilkinson will be assigned to Humboldt Academy of Higher Learning
	Students graduating from 5th grade at Ames or Shaw will be assigned to Carr Lane
	Students graduating from 5th grade at Dewey or Mullanphy will be assigned to Compton-Drew
	Students graduating from 5th grade at Gateway Elementary or Washington Montessori School will be assigned to the Gateway Middle School
	Students graduating out of 5th grade from the Humboldt Academy of Higher Learning will be assigned to the Busch Middle School of Character
	Students graduating out of 5th grade at Kennard will be assigned to McKinley Middle
	Parents wishing to apply to magnet schools other than those assigned are free to do so, but the applications will be considered for placement under the Pool System implemented as well as the priorities within those pools
	All 8th to 9th grade students must apply to be considered for placement to a magnet or choice high school, and criteria must be met to be eligible for placement

My child attends a magnet school, but wants to transfer to a different magnet school next year.  What do I do?
You must submit a new application and be accepted through the lottery.  Your child will keep a spot in his or her current school until (1) he or she is accepted into the new school and (2) you've completed and returned the enrollment paperwork.

I have more questions. Whom should I contact?
For questions about the application and placement process: 
St. Louis City residents should e-mail slpsmagnetschools@slps.org or call the Recruitment & Counseling Center at 314.633.5200
St. Louis County residents should e-mail lmerlo@choicecorp.org or call Lori Merlo at 314.721.8422 ext. 3012

For specific questions about each magnet school, you are encouraged to call each school directly. 

Back