Taking Community College Courses While In High School: Why and How

Did you know that high school students in Los Angeles can take community college courses for FREE? But why would a high school student want to do that? you might ask. Here are some reasons:

1. You're interested in a class or subject that isn't offered at your high school or doesn't fit your schedule. For some students, this might be a "fun" elective, like psychology. For other students, it might mean an advanced math class, especially if you've already maxed out the math classes at your high school.

2. You like a challenge. The classes offered at your high school simply might not be rigorous enough for you.

3. You want to satisfy general education credits faster because you plan to go to community college and hope to transfer to a University of California or California State University school. (If this is the case, make sure you work with your high school to ensure you're also satisfying high school graduation requirements, because they may differ or conflict.)

4. You want to boost the competitiveness of your college application.

I want to emphasize that you shouldn't take community college courses just because you "feel like it." But if you can handle the advanced level workload (it is college, after all), the class fits in your schedule, and your high school approves, then go for it! Here's how.

 

2021-2022 Choices Notification Letters are now available!

The 2020-2021 Notification Letters are now available! You can check online to view the letter, and you should also receive a hard copy of the letter via snail mail.

If you applied to one or more magnet programs, the letter will state whether your child has been admitted to a magnet program or been wait-listed.

If your child has been accepted, you will need to choose to accept or decline - follow the instructions in the letter. You should receive a confirmation email noting your choice, but if you don't, you can call the school or Student Integration Services to make sure they received your notification.

If your child has been wait-listed, there will be instructions on how to proceed (usually you don't need to do anything). If you need more information, I recommend contacting the school's magnet coordinator. They can't tell you if/when your child will get off the wait list, but they should be able to tell you how many students were offered spots off the wait list last year and your child's spot on on this year's wait list. That will give you some idea as to your child's chances of coming off the wait list. But keep in mind that with the pandemic last year, things might have been aberrant in that some students who might have accepted a spot at a magnet school turned it down to stay closer to home or a known school.

If you haven't heard anything from Student Integration Services, you can call them at (213) 241-4177.

I hope you got the outcome you are hoping for - good luck!

The 2020 edition of the LAUSD Magnets Handbook is now available at Amazon!

 

I've updated the LAUSD Magnets Handbook: A Guide to Getting Your Child into an LAUSD Magnet School, and it's now available at Amazon for just $2.99!

It's priced that low because I want everyone to be able to afford it. But I think it's worth a lot more than that, since it's filled with the information that I spent years gathering, distilled into an easy-to-understand format that you'll never get from LAUSD itself.

Learn how priority points actually work and how to maximize your child's chances of getting into your first-choice school, with real-life examples. I also discuss factors to consider when choosing a school, including non-magnet options.

Read this book before you submit the 2021-2022 Choices application!

Choices Application Window is Now Open (But You May Want to Wait)

 The 2021-2022 Choices application is now available at apply.lausd.net. The deadline to apply is November 13, 2020.

But wait! If you haven't read my book, LAUSD Magnets Handbook: A Guide to Getting Your Child into an LAUSD Magnet School, you may want to do so first. It's a very short book that's packed full of information you need to apply wisely and maximize your child's chances of getting into the magnet school of your choice (whether that's this year, or in the future and you're just after wait list points).

I just updated the book for the 2021-2022 Choices application, and am waiting for Amazon to tell me the version available for purchase is live. So keep an eye out here (or on Facebook) and I'll let you know when to hit the buy button. The book is just $2.99, because I wanted to make it affordable for everyone - even though this is information you won't find anywhere else in such a comprehensive, understandable way.

Good luck!

2021-2022 Choices Application Will Be Available October 1, 2020

If you're wanting to get your child into an LAUSD magnet school for next school year, you need to know that the Choices application will become available on October 1, 2020.

Right now, we're three weeks into the 2020-2021 school year, and LAUSD is doing their best to operate as normally as possible while accommodating distance learning. Magnet schools are fully operational, and new students were welcomed and are attending their new magnet schools just like students who were already at those schools.

The big however in all of this is that it can be harder to get information. We're physically removed from schools, teachers, and staff. And while school offices are open, they're also extra busy answering parent phone calls and emails. Drop-ins are not as welcome due to social distancing. You're probably also more focused on day-to-day survival and not thinking about next school year as much as you might under normal circumstances.

If you're craving more information, sign up for email newsletters from and check in with sources relevant to you. For example, the reason I know that the Choices application will be available on October 1st is the GATE Parent Newsletter that was sent via email by LAUSD. I think I was automatically signed up for this newsletter because of my child's status, but anyone can visit the parent page on the GATE website and read the newsletter.

I mostly monitor LAUSD via social media, particularly Twitter:

LAUSD

LAUSD Magnets

LAUSD Gate Programs

Austin Beutner (LAUSD Superintendent)

Tony Thurmond (California Superintendent of Public Instruction)

CA Department of Education

Kyle Stokes (LAist education reporter)

Howard Blume (LA Times education reporter)

Sonali Kohli (LA Times education reporter)

UTLA (United Teachers Los Angeles)

Schools often have their own website and/or school or parent newsletter. And each local district in LAUSD usually has its own social media presence that's worth following for updates. It's a good idea to sign up for updates from schools that you're targeting. They may share important information about relevant dates, and it's one way to get a feel for the school before your child attends.

(If you prefer Facebook, LAUSD Twitter accounts often have a corresponding Facebook page. You can also follow this site on Facebook, where I post reminders about upcoming deadlines and useful tips.)

The eChoices website probably won't be updated until October 1, 2020 (although hopefully they will update it after the late application deadline of September 18).

Get Your Child Into a Magnet School NOW

Did you know that you can get your child into a magnet school right now? Yes, even though the school year just started, your child could still attend a magnet school.

There's a catch, of course. Popular magnet schools are at full enrollment, so there won't be a spot for your child.

But you might be surprised. Even popular schools like centers for enriched studies can have openings, particularly in upper grades.

How can your child get in to a magnet school right now?

If you have a dream school for your child, it can't hurt to call the magnet coordinator and ask if they have any openings. Most likely they won't, but there are schools that clear their wait lists over the summer and start the school year with a few open slots.

For a more general search, try using LAUSD's Potential Seat Openings tool. You can sort the list by grade level, which helps narrow down the field quickly.

To file the late application, click the Apply button at the top right of this page.

For the 2021-2022 school year, the Choices application will hopefully be available in October. Although the pandemic has thrown everyone in the district for a loop, magnet schools continue to operate as normal, albeit with distance learning.

2019-2020 Choices Notification Letters are now available!

Yesterday, LAUSD sent out the 2019-2020 Notification Letters. You might receive an email about the letter, but you will still need to log in at apply.lausd.net to view the letter. You should also receive a hard copy of the letter via snail mail.

If you applied to one or more magnet programs, the letter will state whether your child has been admitted to a magnet program or been wait-listed.

If your child has been accepted, you will need to choose to accept or decline - follow the instructions on the website. You should receive a confirmation email noting your choice.

If your child has been wait-listed, there will be instructions on how to proceed (usually you don't need to do anything).

If you haven't heard anything from Student Integration Services by the end of the week, you can call them at (213) 241-4177.

I hope you get the outcome you are hoping for - good luck!