Schools

FCPS Magnet Programs Applications Available

Interested in sending your student to a magnet or language immersion program? Apply soon.

Applications for Fairfax County Public Schools' magnet programs for the 2013-14 school year are now available.

There are two elementary-level magnet school programs available to county students: Bailey's Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Falls Church and Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Reston.

Bailey's Elementary is open to rising kindergarten through fourth grade students; students entering kindergarten through sixth grade may apply to Hunters Woods.

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Students applying to both schools must also be "working at or above grade level in language arts and math, and demonstrate positive interpersonal and school behaviors," the system guidelines say. 

Rising kindergartners should have attended preschool in 2012-2013, the system says.

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Open seats at the schools are filled by a lottery system. Applications should be postmarked by March 1. They can be picked up at any Fairfax County elementary school, or, downloaded from the magnet schools' websites. 

There are two information nights planned for February for interested parents. See the full schedule of information meetings on Fairfax County magnet schools by following the link.

FCPS online registration for two-way immersion and partial-immersion elementary school world language programs is now also open.

Current prekindergarten students may apply for the two-way kindergarten immersion program and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade partial-immersion world language program for the 2013-14 school year. 

The two-way immersion kindergarten program is only available in Spanish at Bailey’s, Lake Anne, London Towne and Rose Hill Elementary Schools.

The partial-immersion program is offered at 12 elementary schools. In the first grade partial-immersion program, students spend approximately half of each day learning mathematics, science, and health in French, German, Japanese, or Spanish, depending on the school. The other half of the day is spent learning social studies, language arts, and reading in English.

There are no formal requirements for enrollment, but the program is only open to residents of Fairfax County. 

Online registration is available and must be completed by Feb. 15. If there are more applicants than available spaces at a specific school, students will be accepted to the program by lottery.

Families will be notified — during the week of March 22 for the partial-immersion program and during the week of May 22 for the kindergarten two-way program — about acceptance or placement on a waiting list.

Transportation will not be provided for students who live outside the immersion school’s attendance area.

Parents who are interested in the two-way or partial-immersion world language programs in FCPS are encouraged to attend one of the following informational meetings. All meetings are held at the school named, unless noted. For meeting schedule and locations of immersion programs, click here.


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