<p>I’d be curious to hear from parents whose non-magnet student attended a high school with a magnet math and science program. My daughter was one of those, and her experience was on balance positive, but some characteristics of the magnet program and the students enrolled in it were not, at least for her. </p>
<p>The principle source of friction was in the AP classes which were open to every student in the school, but dominated by the magnet students for the math and science offerings. Many of the magnet students looked down upon the non-magent students, and resented their presence. Among the female magnet students who were majority asian, their attitude towards smart white female students (like my daughter) who were non-magnets was elitist, and in some cases, racist. Sad, but true.</p>
<p>Yes, unfortunately, my kids have seen bias flow in both directions.</p>
<p>DD graduated in May from a NCSSSMST schools which is also a “public elite”. She loved it. It was academically challenging for her. She had been bored at our home high school. She made alot of friends. She was happy to be in an environment where most of the students were really bright kids. With only a few exceptions her entire class is continuing to college this year. Many of her classmates are going to Ivies, tech schools and other top tier universities and colleges. She also has classmates going to USMA, USCGA, McGill and London School of Economics. At least in her case, attending a math/science high school did not guarantee admission to every school on her list but eased her transition to college. Not only is she doing well academically because she is use to a demanding workload but she has no problem with dorm life and cafeteria dining thanks to her residential high school experience.</p>