These magnets have become some of L.A.'s highest-scoring public schools
New tests show the city's magnets have soared far above other schools. Read our guide to what it means and explore a list of how every magnet school scored.
Before we start, let's review. What is a magnet school?
A magnet is a public school that is open to all students, regardless of where they live. They have different themes, including performing arts, science and math. Some share a campus with a larger school. Others are free-standing.
The program at the Los Angeles Unified School District, which now oversees roughly 200 magnets, was created in the 1970s as part of a court-ordered desegregation plan.
Parents and students living in the district can apply for seats at a magnet of their choice between Oct 4. and Nov. 10. In most cases, a lottery decides who is accepted. Priority is given to students from neighborhoods with large numbers of minorities, those living near overcrowded schools, as well as the losers of previous drawings.
New tests show magnets scoring far higher than other city schools
Test scores released in recent weeks show that students at L.A. Unified, the nation's second-largest school district, lag behind the statewide average.
But the city's magnets soared far above other L.A. schools, according to new data obtained by The Times.
At traditional L.A. public schools, 35% of students met or exceeded English standards. Only 25% did the same for math.
At the city's magnets, the scores were nearly twice as high. For the same English exam, 61% of magnet students met or exceeded state standards. For math, the number was 48%.
Taken on their own, L.A. magnets would rank close to higher-scoring nearby districts in These magnets have become some of L.A.'s highest-scoring public schools - Los Angeles Times:
