Distinctive

By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D.

In one of my favorite episodes of The Simpsons, “Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade,” Bart and Lisa are both moved into the third grade. Bart moves down from fourth, because he fails a standardized test, while Lisa moves up from second, because she excels on that same test. Unfortunately, since this is Bart’s second time through third grade, he has memorized some of the material and can cheat, which infuriates Lisa. By the end of the episode, after enduring an intolerable classroom rivalry, the principal presents Lisa with two options: stay in the third grade, and continue to be challenged, or return to second grade and reclaim her status as a big fish in a small pond. Without even thinking, she yells, “Big fish! Big fish!” All of the adults around her, instead, groan at her decision.

Many of us presume that accepting invitations to academically challenging programs is a no-brainer. For many, skipping a grade or attending a magnet program (a highly competitive gifted and talented program with specialized courses) is a status symbol, a marker of present and future success. After all, those who are offered such enrichment opportunities have proven in some fashion that they are smart. Yet, accepting such an offer should not be a given. Those who earn an invitation to skip a grade or join a magnet program should, of course, be proud of their achievement, but they should also be aware that it may not always be the best choice for everyone, even the smartest students in the bunch.

Since most offers to skip a grade happen in elementary school, and you’re likely a high schooler or part of a high schooler, I’m going to focus on magnet programs here. Having worked with students from all the magnet programs in the Washington, DC area, and from several other such schools around the country, I’ve observed both stunning opportunities as well as upsetting setbacks that come with attending such a school. Before you choose to attend or decide to drop out (this happens more than you think), consider the upsides, downsides, and college admissions outcomes (which can be positive or negative, as I will explain) that come with these programs.

The Upsides of Magnet Programs

Most people who apply to magnet programs do so considering the benefits, of which there are many! So let’s cover them.

• The greatest upside to these programs is the enhanced academic opportunities. Many magnet students get access to high tech labs, research opportunities, numerous post-AP classes (yes, these exist), and teachers and administrators who identify (or sometimes create) special programs for their students. 
• Plus, the classrooms are full of students who want to learn. You’ll be delighted to discover that you’re learning as much from your peers as you are from your teachers! As a bonus, there aren’t the motivational issues that sometimes come with open, non-competitive programs, but spaces where students are all raising their hands contributing fabulous ideas to the conversation. 
• I’ve also observed that it is easier for my magnet program students to get an internship. Even those who aren’t at the top of their class are recognized by employers as having the right abilities simply because they have that magnet label. In a way, the magnet program does the pre-vetting, which is great for those students. 
• Finally, the specialized focuses are a huge draw. For stellar programmers who land in a STEM magnet program, getting to immerse themselves in math and science almost all day long is a dream come true. For published poets in a humanities magnet program, conducting close readings of great literature is equally wonderful. 

The Downsides of Magnet Programs

Just like everything in life, magnet programs have their drawbacks, too. Here’s what you should consider:

• One of the biggest issues that students face is a long commute to and from these schools that cuts into time they have for activities and studying. This issue should not be taken lightly, since many magnet students then end up getting 4-6 hours of sleep per night, which can then lead to sleep deprivation, poor health, and anxiety. 
• Another issue is the specialized courses. Now you may be shaking your head in confusion, because I said that they were an upside; but if students choose a specialization that is wrong for them (like a STEM student choosing to attend a Humanities magnet program), they are actually setting themselves up for a bad experience.
• Another substantial downside to a magnet program is the unhealthy expectations. Most magnet programs come with exceptionally heavy course loads, and peer pressure to take them if it isn’t already baked into the system. Taking 8 AP classes a year and getting no sleep is not a badge of honor. It’s a recipe for disaster! 
• A fifth problem that comes with magnet programs is that some teachers put a lot of self-teaching on the students. If a student isn’t self-driven or able to pick things up on their own, they’ll likely end up with poor grades in a magnet school. 
• This leads me to my next point: magnet programs are not a guaranteed ticket into a top-tier college. In fact, you will probably have to do even more to stand out in this talented pool to get the attention of places like Stanford or Dartmouth. If you’re more concerned about college outcomes than special opportunities during high school, then you should be like Lisa Simpson and stick with being a big fish at your home school. 
• Finally, the lack of student socioeconomic or ethnic diversity is an issue that is coming up more and more. As much as we enjoy engaging with like-minded peers, we actually learn a lot more from those who are not like us at all!

Should You Attend a Magnet Program?

This is a question that I’ve been asked, but there is no single right answer to it. The best thing you can do is weigh the upsides against the downsides, and see which side you fall on. If you think you’re going to be a standout in a program that fits your interests, and the commute isn’t going to overburden you, then yes, give it a shot! If your interests don’t align with a program or you’ll lose all of the time you need for activities because of a long bus ride, then you probably should stay at your home school. If you think that you’re going to be in the middle of the pack, then it becomes a matter of how many special opportunities you seek to enjoy in high school versus how important your college admissions outcomes are to you. Just remember that if you start in a magnet program, you can always leave if it’s a bad fit, and if you stick with your home school, as a magnet-type student, you’ll find a way of creating your own opportunities. Just be honest with yourself and you’ll land where you’re meant to be.