PB County school choice application period opens
Palm Beach County parents will have nine more school options next year, including an internationally renowned academic center at Lantana Middle School and a performing arts academy at Loggers’ Run Middle School in West Boca.
The school-choice application period opened Wednesday and will extend through Jan. 26.
Some popular programs that require auditions have different deadlines, such as Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Both require applications by Dec. 1.
Jesse Margolis, of Delray Beach, said his son, Phillip, a drum enthusiast, will apply to Bak.
“I’m very glad there are choice programs,” Margolis said. “I will do whatever is necessary for my children to get a good education, even if I have to drive a half hour to get them there.”
Almost every school in the county has some sort of special elective program, ranging from science and fine arts to automotive repair and military preparation. There are also charter schools, virtual schools, gifted programs, programs for the disabled, home schooling and a new option called open enrollment, which allows children to attend any public school that has the space.
Among the new next year:
Equestrian Trails Elementary in Wellington will get a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) program.
Emerald Cove Middle in Wellington will start a PreInformation Technology center.
Hidden Oaks Elementary/Middle School in Boynton Beach will have a STEAM (Science programs Technology Engineering Arts Math) program for sixth- and seventh-graders.
Lantana Middle is getting a Cambridge Academy, a rigorous international curriculum.
Loggers’ Run Middle School will start a performing arts academy, emphasizing theater, music and band.
Polo Park Middle in Wellington is getting a preengineering program.
Almost one-third of the more than 170,000 students in Palm Beach County‘s public schools attend a choice program, assistant superintendent Peter Licata said. There were more than 35,000 magnet applications last year; Licata expects a similar number this year.
Go to Palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms for more information.
Lsolomon@sunsentinel .com