The Los Angeles Unified magnet schools/centers are a voluntary integration program that provide rigorous, high-quality, theme-based instruction designed to facilitate student learning and promote academic achievement. Established in 1977, the magnet programs within our District have been one of the most successful in the nation. Currently, there are 333 magnet programs located throughout the District. The approximate number of seats available in 2024-2025 and the number of applications submitted in 2023-2024 to each magnet school/center can be found under each school’s name. All District students, including English learners, standard English learners, students with disabilities, and gifted/talented are encouraged to apply.

Some magnet programs occupy entire school sites (Full School Magnets), while others are magnet centers located on residential school campuses with access to activities and experiences shared with the host school. Please see Magnet list to review the magnet school/center information in this brochure and to determine the program(s) that fit your child’s needs. Each of the magnet programs falls within one of eight instructional themes: Business, Communication Arts, Centers for Enriched Studies, Gifted and Highly Gifted, Liberal Arts, Public Service, Science/Technology/Engineering/Math or Visual and Performing Arts.

Magnet programs embrace the interests of all students by focusing on thematic instruction and personalized learning. Magnet programs provide pathways that prepare students to pursue innovative careers in our evolving global economy.

Magnet programs were established through an integration court-order to address the Five Harms of Racial Isolation: Low Academic Achievement, Low Self-Esteem, Lack of Access to Post-Secondary Opportunities, Interracial Hostility and Intolerance and Overcrowded Conditions. They are in alignment with Los Angeles Unified’s goals: 100 percent graduation, proficiency for all, 100 percent attendance, parent, community and student engagement, school safety, and building a solid foundation for early learners.

Students who are in grades K-12 and live within the Los Angeles Unified boundary are eligible to apply for magnet programs. Applicants must be residents of Los Angeles Unified at the time of application and while enrolled in the magnet program. The index of programs includes available grade levels for each program.

Only Gifted and Highly Gifted Magnets require specific eligibility criteria for selection. All applicants for Gifted and Highly Gifted Magnets must be identified or verified, and submit a magnet application.

Magnet Programs are Court-Ordered programs that require parents to mark ONE federally identified ethnicity/race category on the application. Select the option next to the ethnicity or race that best describes the child for which you are applying. You may fill in the “Multi-ethnic” response to indicate the applicant is identified as more than one ethnicity/race but your application WILL NOT be processed unless you choose one of the federally identified ethnicity/race categories.

The on-time student selection process for magnet programs is based on the Magnet Priority Point System and the Court-Ordered reduction of the Harms of Racial Isolation. Once the application is submitted, the information is verified by the District’s Information Technology Division (ITD) and students are assigned points based on 5 criteria (see Magnet Priority Point System below). The sum of these points is utilized in the fair and computerized selection process. See Magnet Application Guidelines for late application process.

It is the Parents’/Guardians’ responsibility to verify the student’s address, grade and ethnicity with the current Los Angeles Unified school of attendance prior to the application deadline.

Magnet priority points are only applicable to the magnet program. There are no points given for submitting an invalid (residing outside the district, applying to an incorrect grade level, etc.) or late application. Students who apply for the same grade twice will not earn waiting list points for the previous year.

Selection Process

• You may apply to three different magnet programs. However, you may apply to a single program, the second and third choices are optional.
• The Magnet Priority Points are used for the applicant’s first and optional second or third choice.
• If not selected to their first choice, the applicant will be considered for their second and/or third choice.
• If selected to any one of their choices, the applicant will not be on the waiting list for the other choice(s).
• If not selected into a magnet program, the applicant will be placed on the waiting list for their first choice only.
• Applicants currently attending a magnet program and selected into another magnet program will automatically be dropped from their current magnet program.

Next Steps:

• After you have accepted your selection, please contact the school for enrollment procedures.
• Students not enrolled and attending by the end of the first week of school will be declined from the magnet program.

Magnet Priority Point System

• 12 Points - MATRICULATION *
  • Applicants who have completed the highest grade level in a magnet program and apply to continue in another magnet program at the next level, receive 12 matriculation points. These points do not carry over and are assigned for one year only, at the time of matriculation.
• 4-12 Points - WAITING LIST
  • Applicants who remained on a valid on-time magnet waiting list receive 4 points for the following year. Applicants may accumulate waiting list points for the prior three consecutive years for a maximum of 12 points. If an applicant on a waiting list declines magnet placement, ALL waiting list points are removed. New waiting lists points are established each year. Applicants will NOT be assigned both Matriculation and Waiting List Points at the same time.
• 4 Points - PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC, BLACK, ASIAN AND OTHER NON-ANGLO (PHBAO) SCHOOLS
  • Applicants, whose 2024-2025 resident Los Angeles Unified school is designated as PHBAO by the District, receive 4 points. Points are not cumulative; they are assigned yearly.
• 4 Points - OVERCROWDED
  • Applicants, whose 2023-2024 resident Los Angeles Unified school is designated as overcrowded points by District criteria receive 4 points. Points are not cumulative; they are assigned yearly.
• 3 Points - SIBLING
  • If an applicant is applying to the same magnet school/program in which a brother or sister will be continuing, he/she receives 3 points. Points are assigned if the sibling is attending the applicant’s 1st choice school. Siblings must be associated in the same parent’s Apply account and reside at the same address at the time of application, which points must be reflected in the District’s computer system. Each and every student must have an application on file, including twins, triplets, etc. It is the parent’s responsibility to verify that the siblings have the same address on file in the District’s computer system at the current Los Angeles Unified school of attendance by the application deadline.

*Students enrolled at elementary schools that culminate at 6th grade will be assigned matriculation points at either 5th or 6th grade. Students enrolled in multi-level magnet programs (32nd St/USC MAE, Eagle Rock HS, Franklin DLA, Fulton, Lake Balboa,Los Angeles CES, Maywood CES, Science Academy, Sherman Oaks CES, Sotomayor, Sun Valley BSEL and Valley Oaks CES) do not receive matriculation points. Arroyo Seco, Laurel, Menlo, Western Ave and Westside magnets are grades K-8 and receive matriculation points only at the eighth grade. Applicants will NOT be assigned both Matriculation and Waiting List Points at the same time. Students must have a valid enrollment in a magnet program by the on-time application deadline.

Magnet Application Guidelines

1. Do not submit a new application, if your child is currently enrolled in a magnet program and wishes to continue at the same school. Applicants currently enrolled in a magnet program who apply and are selected for another magnet program will automatically be dropped from their current magnet, whether they accept or decline.
2. Applicants MUST be residents of Los Angeles Unified at the time of application and while participating in the magnet programs. Post office boxes are not accepted.
3. Students selected to programs that have a uniform policy tied directly to their instructional program (CTE, Fire, Police, Medical, etc.). agree to abide by the policy.
4. Magnet school list contains basic information about magnet programs to assist you in making a selection for your child. Although you have the option to select up to three different magnet programs, it is not mandatory for you to do so. Please see Selection Process for information on how the selection process handles the second or third choice(s) before you list an optional school on your application.
5. Each magnet program’s openings are determined by the need to maintain a racially balanced enrollment and by available space.
6. Magnet Programs are Court-Ordered programs that require parents to select ONE federally identified ethnicity/race category on the application. Select the option next to the ethnicity or race that best describes the child for which you are applying. You may fill in the "Multi-ethnic" response to indicate the applicant is identified as more than one ethnicity/race but your application WILL NOT be processed unless you choose one of the federally identified ethnicity/ race categories.
7. Should an applicant leave the magnet program before completing the culminating grade, no matriculation points will be assigned.
8. Students on a waiting list may be contacted regarding an open seat through the first month of school. If an applicant declines magnet placement, ALL waiting list points are removed.
9. Applicants who still wish to apply to a magnet school or center after the November 17, 2023, deadline may submit a late application. The late application will only allow for a single choice and will open February 1, 2024. Available seats for late applicants will be open after all of the students on the waiting list have been offered placement at the selected school site. Each magnet’s openings are determined by the need to maintain a racially balanced enrollment and by available space. Filling out a late application does not guarantee student placement and magnet priority points are not assigned.
10. The earliest grade level offered at a magnet is kindergarten. However, most magnet schools offer a non-magnet UTK program as part of their residential kindergarten program. The following magnet schools do NOT offer UTK: 32nd St., Academy for Enriched Sciences, Arroyo Seco, Community, Mid-City, Lake Balboa, Melrose, Open, Point Fermin, South Shores, Vintage, and Westside.
11. Full school elementary magnets with residential kindergarten give priority to students residing in the attendance boundary. Students currently enrolled in kindergarten have priority admission to 1st grade. Please see Magnet School list to locate full school elementary magnets with residential kindergarten.
12. Residential magnet schools accept applications throughout the school year. A residential magnet school gives priority to students residing within its attendance boundary. All other eligible Los Angeles Unified applicants will be selected provided space is available.
13. The International Baccalaureate Programme Organization (IBO) offers three levels of international education that span the primary, middle and secondary school years. Authorization to become an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School is an intensive process that typically takes two or more years and includes site visits by an IB team. A regular process of evaluation is undertaken by schools that have been authorized.

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Applicants
Los Angeles Unified, in cooperation with the Compton Unified School District (CUSD), offers a limited number of 9th grade openings at the King- Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science. These openings are ONLY available to residents of CUSD.

If you are interested in having your child participate in the program, please complete the Choices application with King-Drew Magnet as the only choice. Students applying to the program must submit a report card from their current school from the first semester of 8th grade. Report cards may be submitted via mail to Los Angeles Unified School District, Student Integration Services, 333 S. Beaudry Ave., 25th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017 or email to echoices@lausd.net to the attention of Compton/King-Drew Application. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that Student Integration Services receives both the application and report card. The information submitted will be verified with CUSD.

CUSD resident students who are selected for the King-Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science are not eligible for transportation.

Transportation is available to some magnet programs. BEFORE MAKING YOUR SELECTION, contact the school or Transportation Services to determine if the magnet program offers transportation and if the closest pick-up/drop-off point is a reasonable distance from your home. Routes and pick-up/drop-off locations have been established for the 2024-2025 school year. No new stops will be added. For information about existing bus routes, contact Transportation Services Division at 1-800-LABUSES or (213) 580-2900.

District-paid transportation MAY be provided for ELEMENTARY (K-5/6) applicants if they reside outside a one-mile radius of the magnet program. District-paid transportation MAY be provided for SECONDARY (6-12) applicants if they reside outside a three-mile radius of the magnet program. Students attending the following span schools have a one-mile eligibility radius: Arroyo Seco, Laurel, Lake Balboa, Sherman Oaks CES, Western Ave and Westside.

Students with disabilities enrolling in a Magnet Program may also have access to transportation. Magnet programs may offer school to school transportation for eligible students.

NOTE: The maximum one-way riding time guideline for all students (grades Kindergarten through 12) is 90 minutes. This applies to all bus routes.

Click here for more transportation information

Please contact the Choices Support Line at (213) 241-4177 or eChoices@lausd.net if you have questions about the Magnet Program.