Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Last magnet scramble Feb. 5
Schools use lines instead of lottery
BY DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The last scramble for Cincinnati Public Schools parents trying to get their children into the district's popular magnet programs will be Feb. 5.
On the so-called “Super Saturday,” CPS officials wait until 7 a.m. to announce the four sites where parents can register their children for the specialized schools. Space is limited and programs fill quickly; last year, more than 1,900 parents were turned away.
Parents who don't have access to cars, cell phones and other gadgets to assist their scramble will be at a disadvantage. Two-thirds of district students are low-income.
But by December, when officials still hadn't created a lottery system, the school board agreed to continue the sign-up scramble one more year.
While relieved Super Saturday will soon end, one resident urged administrators to focus on improving the whole school system rather than just magnet schools.
“The magnet schools have always been an unfair situation for the community, because it's a rat race, and you're not capable of competing unless you have the funds to run fast,” said Shirley Colbert, a West End resident who chairs the Local School Decision-Making Committee at Washburn School and has several grandchildren in CPS schools.
“Super Saturday is Super Stupid at this point in time, because it makes no sense that we have a district that can't turn out an end product that can compete with other kids in the world,” she added.
Sign-ups for the magnet schools will be from 7 a.m. to noon.
Parents should go to the site in their quadrant to sign up for citywide programs or programs specific to their quadrant. Sites will be announced on local radio and TV stations, or parents can call a magnet hot line at 684-4172 after 7 a.m.
The district keeps sign-up sites secret until that morning to avoid parents camping out overnight to assure a prime place in line.
Parents also may apply from 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at district headquarters, 2651 Burnet Ave., Corryville.
Parents applying Feb. 5 will learn immediately whether their child is accepted or on a waiting list.
After Feb. 5, magnet applications are available at district headquarters or any CPS school. Sign-ups continue until all magnet slots are full.
An open house is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at district headquarters so parents can learn about CPS magnet schools and Career Paths programs.
The district has 22 magnet elementaries, three magnet high schools and three magnet middle schools.
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