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Board approves magnet program changes, pauses IB applications and sunsets low-interest tracks
Summary
The board approved a package of magnet-program updates that pauses new IB applications, sunsets several under-enrolled programs and begins a multi-year plan to separate CTE offerings from magnet designations.
The Board of Education on Aug. 12 approved multiple changes to the school system—s magnet program offerings, including a continued pause on accepting new International Baccalaureate (IB) applicants at several schools, the planned sunset of low-interest magnet tracks and a multiyear plan to align career and technical education (CTE) programs with magnet designations.
Dr. Elmendorf, presenting the annual magnet update, told the board the district serves more than 18,800 magnet students in 116 magnet programs. He said the board is being asked to continue a pause on taking new IB applications at two elementary and three middle IB schools to allow targeted focus on core curriculum and program adjustments. "The continued pause will allow the schools to maintain their tighter focus on BCPS core curriculum and programmatic adjustments that need to be made in order to improve academic performance," Elmendorf said.
The board also approved winding down specific programs judged to have low applicant interest: Milford Mill Academy's acting and literary arts magnets will be sunset and replaced with an instrumental music magnet offering for strings and band; the Japanese world language magnet will phase out beginning with no new grade 6 applications in fall 2025; and Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts—literary arts magnet will be phased out because of low enrollment and limited vertical pathway to high school courses.
Staff additionally proposed a multi-phase effort to decouple CTE programs from magnet designations. Under phase 1, Engineering Project Lead the Way would stop accepting new magnet applicants at Parkville and Woodlawn high schools so the program can be offered consistently across nine high schools as a comprehensive CTE program. The mechanical construction/plumbing program would be maintained at Kenwood as a CTE program of study while Western School of Technology would pivot to a broader construction pathway aligned with Building Construction Technology offerings. Graphic print communications would become a magnet offering at Kenwood.
Board members asked whether current students would be affected; staff said students enrolled in existing magnet cohorts would continue in their programs and that changes apply only to future application cycles. The motion to approve the magnet updates passed on a roll call with a recorded "Favor is 8. Motion carries."
