TheFoothillsForum

I'm going to the magnet meeting tonight at James Monroe High School... I hope it will help us narrow down the choices for high schools.

I'm sure I'll have many questions about the different choices soon, as I really love how the people on this board give their honest opinions.

At the moment there are schools for visual (digital) art and computers on the list. anyone have a magnet high school they love or hate??

One has already been scratched off the list because the half sleeping person that answered the phone couldn't be bothered to answer my questions or even transfer me to someone who cared...other schools have happy helpful people answer the phone with tons of information.

anyone else going tonight??

For a visual arts high school, the best one in town is LACHSA. Period. It's worth adding to your list, and having your child audition for it. LACHSA is not part of LAUSD (thank God), so it doesn't have all the LAUSD baggage. It's funded directly by LACOE. Because you can only apply to one magnet, you can still apply to LACHSA as well your magnet choice.

http://www.lachsa.net

The next open house is Wednesday November 17, 2010 (11:30- 2pm)

LACHSA - Los Angeles County High School For The Arts
LACOE - Los Angeles County Office Of Education

How awesome of you to go and check out schools to find the right fit for your child and family. I am sure that you will get plenty of input on this subject always remember what is right for one family may not be right for yours and what is right for one of your children may not be for all of them. One of the good things about LAUSD, is the choices program and being able to choose from different schools, so go and check out as many as you can. I believe that Kennedy is a Charter not a Magnet but I have heard good things, however I don't know what the admission process is. Don't forget that Verdugo has a Multi-Media Magnet, Verdugo has undergone a reform plan to be more like a charter than a traditional LAUSD school so be sure to check them out as well.

I checked out high schools when my son was that age. Although I mostly checked out private schools, the one public high school I considered was North Hollywood High (on Magnolia). My friend's 3 kids went there and had positive experiences. Other friends liked Taft and Granada Hills. It's great you are doing this!! Try and visit on a school day also. That could be an eye opener!! I discovered that Providence, which is next to the Ventura Fwy., was just too noisy imo. Once you've narrowed your choices, please make sure your teen decides with you.

My kids have been in the magnet system for the most part through their educational experience. The magnet offered
more personalized and more caring staff. I know 2 kids who went to Kennedy Magnet and loved it. Cleveland has a great humanities magnet but it is very demanding. Lachsa has a great program for performing and visual arts. Granada hills School is charter but excellent. It has a science magnet. Verdugo seems to be in flux with the pilot and changes but one of my kids was in the magnet for a year and I was pleased with the coordinator and teachers. Check out the schools and go with your gut. Remember that the best school is the one that fits your child best. Good luck. Oh, remember that the kids can get their license at 16 so you may not have to drive them the whole 4 years.

Thanks for the info on lachsa - It has been added to our list, and she is working on her portfolio for application.

Kennedy was one of the schools we got to hear about the other night, and we are scheduling a tour there.

We are also looking at zoo high which is a North Hollywood magnet - not an art school but my daughter loves animals.

My teen is definitely part of this choosing process I'm sure out of this long list there will be at least one that we can all agree on.

For the magnet schools we were told a bus would pick them up at our local high school...

My daughter also put the Sylmar Science magnet on her list - anyone know about that one??

thanks for the personal opinions. I know we all have different ideas on what is a good school, and what may not work well for one, might be perfect for another... but still think it is worthwhile to have more opinions instead of less so thank you to those who took the time to reply.

http://projects.latimes.com/schools/mag ... ores/list/

if you put any weight on the LATIMES lists ....

And Eagle Rock Magnet is extending to 12th grade this next year altho it wont be in the Choices Book since they just got clearance.

We are even looking to switch out of the Mt. Gleason Magnet after the first two years there. Especially to find out the general courses are ahead of us in curriculum pacing ! unbelievable. Some of the magnet teachers have their own agenda and figure the kids will get good scores whether they teach them or not. I sure get the feeling they hold the parents in contempt and that our kids are the idiot stepchildren they have been forced to educate. I don't think they quite know what to do with us.
Altho I am fairly certain too they didn't choke on the raised scores over the last year that came with those children.

So ya, we are making the Magnet tour rounds these next weeks too.

We've toured a couple of the magnet schools...and have a few more to tour... but today we went to LACHSA.... wow!!

just wanted to thank Hobo for bringing it to my attention.

Glad you liked it.

Decisions... decisions...

@unixchick!

I'm going to date myself right about now but I was in the very first graduating class of LACHSA, 1987! I was a vocal music major. Amazing school, amazing memories and definitely a first choice for any student who is serious about their music, visual arts or drama career.

Thank you for the replies...
Kiddo goes for her interview/portfolio review next week at LACHSA. We are all very excited.

Due to LAUSD Budget Cuts 90% of the Magnet School Budget may be cut. That could mean closing most of the Magnets. I attended the LAUSD, Tuesday 10:00 meeting.

Thanks for the info Ed Rep... it is very depressing...

most of the magnets we toured did mention they were very worried about funding next year...

It just seems so stupid to me that we are thinking of cutting school and library funding and expect to get out of this recession/depression.

How could they squeeze more money out of the Magnet department , here ?
The kids are already on bread and water instruction in our local Gifted magnet.
They color reproducibles , watch Discovery Chan. videos, and listen to their teacher talk. Sometimes they get called names , like jackass and snotty little brat , if they talk back. Sometimes the kids get called into the principals office for 1:1 interegation if their parents inquire too often into the extensive use of reproducibles and video for instruction, and lack of homework or production of ANYTHING for the last 5 months.
We save money on paper because they are not instructed on how to take notes on all that teacher talk.
Homework is downloaded off homeschooling websites and the teachers take personal phone calls during class time so they clearly aren't putting in any overtime anywhere.
Actually , SUB pay must be astronomical. My child likes seeing the SUBS so I really wont complain about that. Don't take them away my child would say , except for the one that made them open their books and READ in class. What nerve !
Best money saver is on the cost of outside tutoring because the kids miraculously come home with .... "A" s.

Quite a racket.

What school are you talking about Party of 5? My kids went to a gifted/high ability magnet elementary school and Pacoima TFA magnet (2 were in the gifted classes and one was regular) and I never saw or heard of anything like that from my kids! The 2 worked hard. And in High School- Cleveland Humanities Magnet and Granada Hills Charter they were treated well but much was expected of them.
The only kid I had who was treated badly at all was Verdugo Hills High School. That is horrible if this behavior of which you speak is widespread.