Program Overview

The FCPS Elementary Magnet Program:

• Enhances the Program of Studies Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for all subjects.

  Funding is provided for additional staffing at each site to support these services as they relate to the school-specific science, technology, and fine arts integrated programs

• Focuses on science, technology, and performing arts
• Allows out-of-boundary students apply and gain admission through a division-wide lottery
  • The lottery provides equal access to the magnet program for all students in FCPS
  • Selection is based on a random lottery and not on academic, behavior, or pre-school experience

There are three Magnet Schools:

• Bailey’s Elementary for the Arts and Sciences
• Bailey’s Upper Elementary
• Hunters Woods Elementary

Scope of Impact

The elementary magnet program serves all students in each of the three schools:

• Bailey’s Elementary for the Arts and Sciences
• Bailey’s Upper Elementary
• Hunters Woods Elementary

All families interested in having their students attend a magnet school must submit an application for enrollment and then a random lottery is conducted to select students to attend the magnet school.

Seats available are determined by the enrollment at each school.

Number of Students in the Lottery

• 2021-22: 410

Strategic Actions and Measures

Updated for the 2022-2023 school year.

Goal 1

Maintain the lottery process in order to minimize bias in selection of applicants for  magnet schools.

Strategic Actions:

• Continue computer-generated lottery
• Share News You Choose prior to opening and close of lottery to publicize lottery dates.
• Publicize lottery timeline and process on magnet lottery webpage.
• Hold magnet lottery information nights - one for each school.

Strategic Measures

• Yearly analysis of applications