District Five accepting application for choice, magnet programs

Lexington-Richland School District Five is now accepting applications for its Choice & Magnet programs.

The window for submitting a Choice & Magnet application opened January 11 at 9 am and closes January 24, at 5 pm. The preferred process is using the online application https://d5choiceapp.com/login, which is now available on the district’s website and all school websites. Hard copy applications will also be available upon request at each School District Five school and the district office.

Applications must be received at the district office (Attn: Amanda Neel, 1020 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo) by January 24 at 5 pm.

“School District Five is a school system where every choice is a great choice, and we are extremely proud to offer a wide array of quality magnet and other choice programs,” School District Five Magnet Director Sara Wheeler said. “It’s our goal to provide families with the choices they need to make their students successful, and we look forward to seeing all the positive impacts of offering choice programs in School District Five.”

Hundreds of students, parents and community members gathered during Virtual School District Five Magnet Fairs in November and January to learn more about magnet offerings in the district. In September 2017, School District Five magnet programs received a boost from a $13.7 million federal Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grant.

The district’s magnet programs include: Dutch Fork Elementary School Academy of Environmental Sciences, Harbison West Elementary School Escolares Academy Academic Magnet, H. E. Corley Elementary School Leadership Magnet and Montessori Magnet, Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet, Nursery Road Elementary School Arts Magnet, Seven Oaks Elementary School MEDIA Magnet, Irmo Middle School International Academic Magnet and I AM Escolares, Dutch Fork High School STEM Magnet program, Irmo High School International School for the Arts, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme and This Is Escolares and Spring Hill High School Career Pathways Magnet.

The application deadline has already passed for four district magnet programs. The Escolares Academy at Harbison West Elementary School, I AM Escolares at Irmo Middle School, This Is Escolares at Irmo High School and the STEM Magnet Program at Dutch Fork High School are each criteria-based programs with their own application process.

School District Five Choice includes the option to select any school in the district that has space available to accommodate additional students or to select a magnet school or magnet program. In addition to magnet programs, School District Five “School of Choice” options currently include: Harbison West Elementary School, Irmo Elementary School, Oak Pointe Elementary School, River Springs Elementary School, CrossRoads Intermediate School, Chapin High School, Dutch Fork High School.

Information on magnet schools and programs in School District Five can be found by visiting https://www.lexrich5.org/choice or by contacting individual schools.