Wake County reviews magnet program ROI as Project Nexus grant nears end

Wake County Public School System officials on Thursday told the school board that the district’s magnet programs remain central to its strategy for expanding high‑quality options and promoting school integration as several federal grants near their end.

Presenter Teela George East, Nexus project director, said Wake County’s magnet portfolio traces to the district merger and has grown to 61 magnet programs, including 30 elementary, 15 middle, seven high and seven early‑college sites. “Magnet programs are a system wide strategy,” she said, and noted partnerships with Shaw University, NC State and Wake Tech for early‑college pathways.

Why it matters: Staff framed federal MSAP money as seed funding intended to launch programs that the district sustains afterward through local staffing commitments. Project Nexus, a 2021 Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant that covers four schools identified in the presentation, runs through March 30, 2026, and staff emphasized the need to plan for sustainability after grant closeout.

What staff presented: Officials described multiple measures—qualitative and quantitative—used to assess magnet impact beyond standardized test scores, and they highlighted national recognition: “96 of our magnet schools this year received a national merit award,” George East said. She also told the board that Nexus began with “$14,100,000 over a 5‑year period” for implementation (staff remarks contained a later numeric restatement inconsistent with that line; see clarifying details).

Board concerns and staff responses: Board members repeatedly pressed for clarity on equitable access and on how magnet priorities affect base‑area students in gentrifying neighborhoods. Board member Courtney Gordon asked how the district is “making sure that those families are not falling in that 5%” of priority seats; staff said the district continually reviews priorities, considers new magnet school locations in high‑need communities and conducts outreach to increase awareness among families unfamiliar with local enrollment processes.

Transportation and access surfaced as another constraint. Staff acknowledged bus‑driver shortages and said the district is exploring express stops, carpool lists, and targeted transportation support where partnerships (for example, with Wake Tech) can help.

Sustainability and staffing: Board members asked what portion of the magnet budget the district should prioritize. Staff said grant funds typically pay school‑based positions (magnet coordinators, world‑language teachers and other roles) that are essential to sustain a theme with fidelity; staff did not give a single consolidated dollar total during the presentation and said they would provide specific budget request details to the board.

Evaluation plans: Multiple trustees urged evaluation of program effectiveness and efficiency. Staff said an evaluation of select magnet programs is planned to assess return on investment and to identify whether leadership, theme or other factors drive enrollment and academic outcomes. The district also noted examples of previous MSAP work it has leveraged to scale successful practices across non‑magnet schools.

What happens next: Staff will deliver the videos that failed to display during the meeting, provide more detailed budget/position counts on magnet staffing, and carry out the planned program evaluations and outreach steps ahead of grant closeouts and budget discussions.

Closing: The presentation concluded with board members asking staff to return with further data on access, cost and program effects so the board can weigh sustainment choices in upcoming budget cycles.