| Students attending Texas Public Schools | | | | games. This kid understands all the |
| have many choices. They literally have | | | | latest technology, gets excited about |
| a plethora of magnet programs to choose | | | | tech news, and may have even taken the |
| from. Depending on their grade level, | | | | family PC apart. Well, the little tyke |
| they can choose to attend a school that | | | | needs to attend a Science and Technology |
| focuses on providing the 3 Rs with a | | | | magnet program at one of the Texas |
| slant; the Arts, Science, Technology and | | | | Schools! The choice of programs that |
| Foreign Language are all examples of the | | | | Texas Schools offer is truly staggering. |
| different types of Texas Schools kids | | | | Following is a sample of some choices |
| and their parents can choose from. | | | | in Texas Schools located in Dallas and |
| But what is a magnet school, anyway? A | | | | Houston: |
| magnet school is a one that, while | | | | DALLAS HOUSTON |
| meeting the educational needs of its | | | | K-5 Visual Arts (grades 4-5) Fine; |
| students by following state standards, | | | | Creative; and Performing Arts |
| also offers students the chance to study | | | | Leadership (grades 4-5) Leadership; |
| in a unique way. In the beginning, | | | | Communication |
| magnet schools were begun with the | | | | 6-8 Arts (grades 7-8) Fine; Performing |
| intent of ending racial segregation. | | | | Arts |
| Kids of all economic backgrounds could | | | | Environmental Science Math & Science; |
| attend any school they wanted to. In | | | | Tech & Spanish |
| some school systems, like the one that | | | | Career Exploratory Architecture & |
| serves many Texas Schools, additional | | | | Graphic Design |
| magnet programs have been developed at | | | | Law Languages; Physical Development |
| facilities in locations that parents may | | | | 9-12 Health Professions Meteorology & |
| have found less than desirable without | | | | Space Sciences |
| the magnet option being in place. | | | | Education & Social Services Leadership |
| Instituting magnet programs in Texas | | | | Academy |
| Schools has both attracted voluntary | | | | Business & Management International |
| enrollment and achieved the desired | | | | Studies |
| racial balance. | | | | Why should you choose a Texas Schools |
| What are your options? Well, there are | | | | magnet for your child? I confess that I |
| magnet programs all throughout the Texas | | | | never knew until it was time for my own |
| Schools educational system. All students | | | | children to enroll in school. For our |
| - elementary, middle, and high school - | | | | family, sending the kids to a magnet |
| can choose to attend a magnet program. | | | | school was a better option than |
| Some Texas Schools programs "feed" into | | | | attending our "neighborhood school". |
| one another; elementary Texas Schools | | | | Our children attend a Performing Arts |
| students who attend a performing arts | | | | magnet; this choice reflecting my desire |
| magnet, for example, can continue on to | | | | to give the kids some early exposure to |
| a performing arts middle and high | | | | the arts, since I studied music through |
| school. Many parents want to ensure | | | | college. For my husband, this was a |
| their child's academic success, and that | | | | chance to give his children a chance |
| is where the Texas Schools magnet | | | | that he never had - exposure to an arts |
| program truly shines. Say your child is | | | | education. |
| really interested in computers. I don't | | | | So go ahead, Texas Schools parents, and |
| mean they just like to play computer | | | | give magnet schools a try! |