Knox County Magnet Schools Evaluation
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Final Summative Evaluation Report

Findings and Conclusions

Overaching Conclusions and Recommendations

Overarching Conclusions

Careful analysis of the 4 research question-related conclusions above and the plethora of data and information reported as findings of this study lead the evaluation team to the following broad generalizations (overarching conclusions):

1. Knox County magnet programs seem to meet the intent of the original OCR agreement, but they are not fulfilling their potential as an integral, dynamic part of the educational system.
2. Magnet programs have had little impact on schoolwide achievement over the past five years.  Schools designated as magnet schools are performing no better than, and in some cases, worse than, a comparison group of Knox County schools.
3. There is support for the magnet concept among stakeholder groups, but widespread dissatisfaction with the current status of magnet schools and programs.
4. As currently implemented, the school-within-a-school approach to magnet programs is not working well.  It is doubtful that it can ever be truly successful in its present form.
5. There is need for a master plan for magnet or specialty schools.  The plan needs to address all elements necessary to their success; e.g., geographic locations, programmatic themes, vertical articulation, zoning, transportation, recruitment and promotion, funding, staffing, policies and procedures pertaining to application, admission, continuation, transfer, and parent/family commitments.
6. This would seem to be an excellent time to rethink and reshape the magnet school initiative, since a new high school is being constructed and other relevant projects are either underway or in various stages of planning.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study the evaluation team concludes that the future success of Knox County magnet programs requires that several interrelated factors be addressed.  Therefore, we offer the following recommendations as an aid to discussion and planning:

1. Consider appointing a taskforce composed of educators, Board members, business and community leaders, and parents to develop and present to the Board a master plan for a 3-5 year reorganization and redevelopment of specialty/magnet schools.
   
   Ask the taskforce to address, at minimum, the following issues:
   • viability of moving from school-within-a-school magnet programs to whole school magnets which could house more than one Academy/magnet/specialty program,
   • expansion of the number of magnet themes/curricula and the number of schools designated as magnet/specialty schools,
   • geographic location of magnet/specialty schools and vertical articulation (continuity) of themes/curricula,
   • viability of a downtown location,
   • zoning of magnet schools,
   • funding requirements and procedures,
   • transportation to magnet/specialty schools,
   • policies and procedures for student application, admission, continuation, transfer, and parent/family commitments.
2. Conduct for use by the taskforce a countywide needs assessment to identify magnet themes/curricula of interest to parents, students, and the business community.  Test for interest in themes/curricula such as International Baccalaureate, foreign languages, Montessori, dual enrollment and others currently offered in other school districts, as well as themes currently in place in Knox County.
3. Conduct/commission a study (to be completed quickly) which synthesizes available research on magnet schools.
   
   NOTE:  All three recommendations can be implemented simultaneously so that results from recommendations 2 and 3 which can be carried out in a 6-month timeframe can inform the longer term work of the task force.
4. During the period of time dedicated to master planning, every effort should be made to enhance the current magnet programs to best serve Knox County students and families.