New Schools Aisle 7!

In case you haven't heard, the Chicago Public Schools will be opening a few new schools next year and they are magnets plus a gifted center. So you CPSers know what that means - LOTTERY TIME! More choices in that whole "school choice" thing. In reality we know it's more school luck than choice, but put as the commercials say, you can't win if you don't play. So read on about the new schools and how you can try to get your lil one in them.

Here's the skinny from CPS themselves:

Dear CPS Community,

We're very excited about five new elementary magnet schools and a new regional gifted center that will open this fall, expanding school options for students in a variety of neighborhoods.

* *Disney II Magnet School*
3815 N. Kedvale Ave., will offer a fine/performing arts and technology integration curriculum.
* *LaSalle II Magnet School*
1148 N. Honore St., will provide a world language program that allows students to learn one of four different languages.
* *Sir Miles Davis Magnet Academy*
6730 S. Paulina, a brand new facility, will offer the district's first-ever children's engineering program.
* *Joshua D. Kershaw Magnet School*
6450 S. Lowe Ave., will offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for students in sixth through eighth grade
* *Oscar Mayer Magnet School*
2250 N. Clifton Ave., will offer the Montessori Program for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for sixth- through eighth-graders.
* John Coonley Regional Gifted Center, 4046 N. Leavitt, will receive a new regional gifted center for academically advanced students.

These schools will offer a variety of highly coveted academic programs in neighborhoods that haven't always had access to these kinds of high-quality education options.

The CPS Office of Academic Enhancement will accept applications until April 25 for the 2008-2009 school year. The magnet schools will not require academic testing, but will accept students from the neighborhood and through a citywide lottery. Students will have to test into Coonley Regional Gifted Center.

For an application, please click on the school name (Coonley applications will be available in the fall for the 2009-2010 school year); to read the press release about this project, please click here: http://www.cps.k12.il.us/magnet_pdf/magnet_schools_final_release_letterhead.pdf

Sincerely,

Arne Duncan

This is post is crossed posted to Chicago Parent.

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