[SoDu How-To] Entering the 2025 Durham Public Schools Magnet Lottery

Until 5 p.m. on Jan. 31, Durham Public Schools is accepting applications for its magnet programs and CTE pathways. Here's what you need to know.

Magnet School Basics

Magnet schools, developed to battle desegregation efforts decades ago, provide specialized curriculum with the goal of diversifying the student population. In Durham, magnet schools are governed by the DPS Board of Education, offer the required North Carolina standard courses, and provide academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) services and 504 accommodations. They don't have academic criteria for entry. Any student in Durham County who lives within a magnet school's designated geographic zone can apply.

The first magnet programs in Durham started at Burton, C.C. Spaulding, Morehead, R.N. Harris, W.G. Pearson, and Y.E. Smith elementary schools; Shepard Middle School; and Durham School of the Arts (formerly Durham High School).

Magnet themes available at DPS include:

• International Baccalaureate.
• Montessori.
• Dual-Language Immersion.
• Humanities and Arts.
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
• Early College.

For Southpoint Access purposes, let's look at the elementary-level magnet schools available in three of the DPS zones:

Southwest

• IB: Burton Magnet Elementary School.
• Montessori: Morehead Montessori Elementary School.
• Dual-Language Immersion: Southwest Elementary School.
• Year-Round: Hope Valley or W.G. Pearson Elementary School.

Southeast

• IB: Burton Magnet Elementary School.
• Montessori: George Watts Montessori Elementary School.
• Dual-Language Immersion: Lyons Farm.
• Year-Round: Pearsontown or W.G. Pearson Elementary School.

Eastern

• IB: E.K. Powe Elementary School.
• Montessori: Little River Montessori Elementary School.
• Dual-Language Immersion: Merrick-Moore Elementary School.
• Year-Round: Oak Grove or W.G. Pearson Elementary School.

Other Application School Options

Beyond magnet schools, DPS also has application-based programs for:

Year-Round Schools

• Rogers-Herr Middle School.
• The School for Creative Studies.

Online Education

• Ignite! Online Academy.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways

Students who live in the attendance zones for these schools get priority seating in the lottery. Students outside the zone can enter the lottery for potential placement.

• Northern High School: Agriscience and Natural Resources, Fire Academy and Public Safety, Culinary Arts, Automotive.
• Jordan High School: Agriscience and Natural Resources.
• Hillside High School: Business and Finance Academy.
• Riverside High School: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

These programs also are available via magnet lottery:

• Durham School of the Arts: Adobe Academy, Game Art Design.
• Durham School of Technology: Cisco Network Engineering, Python Programming.
• Southern School of Energy and Sustainability: Skilled Trades.

JROTC

Students may also enter the magnet lottery to participate in a JROTC program that's not offered at their base school, including:

• Riverside High School: Air Force JROTC.
• Northern High School: Air Force JROTC.
• Hillside High School: Army JROTC.

Continued placement in these programs depends on attendance, grades, behavior, and progress in the program. Transportation is provided from the district base school, but transportation to a student's base school is the family's responsibility.

Magnet Application Process

The person submitting an application to DPS on behalf of a student must be the parent or legal guardian who's at least 18 years old. The applicant must maintain continuous residence in Durham from the date of application submission.

Applicants must create an online School Mint account using their email or phone number and password.

If the student is currently enrolled at DPS, enter their PowerSchool student ID number to pre-populate the student/parent information fields. Otherwise, manually enter that data.

Pick a maximum of three magnet schools or CTE pathways, ranking them in order of preference. Make sure to check out highlighted text about lottery priorities, bell schedules, and transportation services.

Finally, complete the signature page and submit the application no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025.

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