What is National Magnet Month? and what is the Magnet Program at JMHS?
National Magnet Month was in February dedicated to highlighting the success of magnet schools across the United States. A magnet program at a school, like John Marshall High is a specialized program that promotes student diversity and is committed to high-quality education. To learn more about the magnet program we asked JMHS’s magnet counselor, Ms. Kepenyan. If you are a magnet student Ms. Kepenyan is in charge of honoring the classes you pick each year and helping you manage decisions until you graduate from John Marshall High School.
What is the Magnet Program at JMHS?
In our interview with Ms. Kepenyan over email, we learned that the Gifted Magnet program is integrated into JMHS’s campus. The program provides for diverse student communities to come together and learn important skills in a supportive and academically challenging environment. This is not as intimidating as it sounds because dedicated magnet teachers teach a challenging curriculum that serves as a stepping stone for more advanced classes, such as Advance Placement (AP) classes. Since the program is so small, it allows for students to create closer relationships with magnet teachers and students which might help for college applications.
If you want to see the questions we asked the Ms. Kepenyan, our Magnet Counselor at Marshall. The questions with her responses will here:
BlueTide: What do you want to highlight about the magnet program?
NK: Marshall Gifted Magnet opened on August 27, 1999. In the fall of 2013, our capacity was increased to 450 from 395 students in grades 9 through 12. As part of the resolution of the 2019 teacher strike, class sizes have gradually been reduced over the past 4 years. This has led to a decrease in the overall size of our magnet. Our current capacity is 345. For the following year we received an expansion to 366 students. As of now we have 447 applications for our Gifted Magnet.
The Marshall Gifted Magnet is not a stand-alone school, rather, it is integrated into the host campus of John Marshall High School. We currently have four bus routes that bring students from South Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, East Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles. The communities surrounding Marshall are multicultural with a wide socioeconomic range from professional to “blue collar” to families on public assistance.
BlueTide: If any, what is the importance of the magnet program?
NK: America’s students come from more diverse backgrounds than ever before, but schools are becoming more separated by race and income. I strongly believe that magnet schools—which focus on diversity, creativity, and inclusivity—can help bring students together. These schools encourage integration, allow students from different backgrounds to learn from each other, and provide excellent education along with other important life skills for everyone.
BlueTide: What is special or unique about the magnet program?
(Different student culture or operation? When compared to other JMHS programs.)
NK: The Marshall Gifted Magnet Program stands out as a small, close-knit community within a larger school. It provides a supportive and academically challenging environment specifically designed for Gifted students. Here’s what makes it unique:
Dedicated Magnet Teachers – The program has a team of specially selected teachers who are experienced in working with gifted students, ensuring that lessons are engaging, challenging, and tailored to advanced learners.
Small Learning Community – Unlike the larger school setting, the magnet program offers a more personalized educational experience, allowing for closer relationships between students, teachers, and staff.
Highly Involved Students & Parents – Magnet students are active in both academics and extracurricular activities, contributing to the school’s clubs, leadership programs, and academic competitions. Parents also play a significant role in supporting the program and their children’s education.
Rigorous & Enriched Curriculum – The program offers a challenging curriculum with opportunities for advanced coursework, AP classes, and unique elective options that help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
College & Career Readiness – With a strong academic foundation, students in the magnet program are well-prepared for college applications, often achieving higher test scores and acceptance rates to prestigious universities.
Overall, the Marshall Gifted Magnet Program provides an exceptional learning environment that nurtures student’s academic talents while encouraging their personal growth and involvement in the school community.
BlueTide: How do students qualify to be in the magnet program?
NK: The Marshall Magnet Program is designed specifically for Gifted students, meaning
that students who join the program must have been identified as Gifted at some point
during their K-8 education.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Integration Office is responsible for selecting students who meet the criteria for giftedness.
Students can be identified as Gifted through multiple ways, including:
Gifted testing conducted by LAUSD
Teacher recommendations based on advanced academic performance and critical thinking skills
Exceptional ability in areas such as math, language arts, science, or creative thinking
Once identified, students are placed into the magnet program through LAUSD’s magnet application and selection process, which may be competitive depending on the number of applicants.
The Marshall Magnet Program is specifically designed to challenge Gifted students by providing a rigorous curriculum, advanced coursework, and enrichment opportunities to support their unique learning needs.
BlueTide: What does Marshall High School do for its magnet students?
NK: Gifted Magnet Program offers enriched interdisciplinary academic environments that are exciting, challenging and encourages students to use creative/critical thinking skills. Both serve students who demonstrate the ability or strong potential to work two years above grade level in academic subjects.
BlueTide: Is there anything you want to highlight about the magnet program?
NK: The program provides excellent resources, challenging coursework, and teacher support to help students excel on AP exams, giving them a head start on college credits. Students have access to a wide range of subjects, including advanced courses that encourage critical thinking and creativity. [The] Magnet program attracts highly qualified and passionate educators who challenge and inspire students to reach their full potential. Magnet students take the lead in organizing and running clubs, fostering leadership skills and creating a vibrant school community. Students in the magnet program consistently score higher on the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) compared to the host school, demonstrating strong academic achievement. Magnet students are well-prepared for college, with many gaining admissions to top universities thanks to rigorous coursework, strong extracurricular involvement, and college readiness support.
