Orange County School Board backs earlier magnet application window, raises GPA-based seats to 80%

The Orange County School Board on Aug. 26 reviewed recommended revisions to policy JFBD governing magnet schools and magnet programs, including moving the application window earlier, increasing the share of high‑school magnet seats assigned by GPA to 80% and allowing schools to offer seats through the first 10 days of the school year.

The changes, presented by Greg Moody of the district and Michelle Thomas, director of school choice, are intended to give families earlier notice of placements and to make high‑school magnets more academically selective by using GPA ranking for the majority of seats. "We recommend opening the dates of the magnet application as early as mid October and closing the application just before winter break," Michelle Thomas said, adding that the first lottery would be mid‑January and a second lottery mid‑February.

The revisions also shift seat assignment for competitive high‑school magnets so that 80% of seats are placed by a GPA ranking system and the remaining 20% by lottery. "Members of the board have expressed the desire to make high school magnet programs more competitive," Thomas said. Under the proposed language, the system will rank applicants by GPA, take the top 80% as seat offers from that ranking and allocate the remaining 20% by lottery.

Board members pressed staff on operational details and equity concerns.…