Kankakee School District Magnet Programs

Helping your child excel at what they do best

What are Magnet Programs?

• Magnet Programs offer a theme or focus that is designed to give students an opportunity to explore a special interest, gift, talent or skill. A Magnet School may feature one or more Magnet Program.

Is a Magnet Program right for your family? This all really depends on the following factors:

• Are you interested in a different curriculum or instructional approach?
• Do you feel your children have special interests or talents that would be better met within a Magnet classroom?
• How do you feel about sending your children to a school outside of your neighborhood?
• How do you feel about student diversity?

The decision to enroll your child into a Magnet Program is not a fast and easy one. Probably the best way to make this decision is to prioritize your goals and focus on them that way. What are your goals? Are they to:

• Place my child in a more racially or ethnically diverse student population?
• Place my child in a school where academic progress should surpass what he or she would do at their assigned neighborhood school?
• Place my child in a school environment with a specific type of curriculum or teaching methodology?

Who is eligible to apply for the programs?

• Any kindergarten through sixth grade student who lives within Kankakee School District 111 may apply for a Magnet Program. Kankakee Junior High or Kankakee High School students who have a strong interest in the arts may audition for the Creative and Performing Arts Magnet in the spring.

How do I get an application?

• Each student currently enrolled in a Kankakee School District school in grades Pre-K – 7 receives a preprinted application in the mail in early January. Additionally, applications are available in the Instructional Programs/Magnet Office, located at Lincoln Cultural Center at 240 Warren Avenue. Applications will be accepted at the Instructional Programs/Magnet Office beginning February __, 2009.

Am I guaranteed to get in if I apply?

• Unfortunately, there are no guarantees. Admission is determined by a lottery that is based on the number of openings and the number of applications received for a program. For more information contact Julie Penrod the Director of Enrichment Programs.