Applications are available through Jan. 31 for the lottery to determine September placement in the City School District of Albany’s three magnet elementary schools and one magnet elementary program. And you can check out all of them at open houses next week.
Download an application here.
Open houses
Families have the opportunity to tour each unique program at four open houses this month:
- Monday, Jan. 6 – Dual Language Program at Delaware Community School, 43 Bertha St., 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 7 – Montessori Magnet School, 45 Tremont St., 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 8 – Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), Lincoln Park, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 9 – Albany School of Humanities (ASH), 108 Whitehall Road, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
About the lottery
Admission into the district’s magnet schools and program is done through two random lotteries – one for children who will enter prekindergarten in September, and one for students who will enter kindergarten-grade 5 or 6, depending on the school, in September.
Both lotteries are random and designed to provide access for all children in Albany. They are conducted by an independent national firm to assure fairness and impartiality.
Applications are available now for the lottery for students in kindergarten-grades 5 or 6.
If you want to enter your child into prekindergarten in a magnet school or program, you need to apply to the separate prekindergarten lottery with a different application that will be available Feb. 3.
Both lotteries for the 2020-21 school year will be held Wednesday, March 18 at 10 a.m. at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology. You are welcome to attend to find out if your child has been awarded a seat. After the lottery, the district also will send an official notification by mail and email.
District officials will be at the lottery drawing to answer any questions.
What is a magnet school or program?
A magnet school or program focuses instruction on a particular theme and incorporates that theme across all subject areas.
The district offers families three themed elementary schools – Albany School of Humanities, Montessori Magnet School and Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) – and one themed program, the Dual Language Program at Delaware Community School.
Visit our magnet page to learn more about the choices, information to consider, frequently asked questions and what happens after the lottery.
