Types of magnets debated

Not all Wake magnet elementary schools are equal in the discussion over what kind of year-round calendar should be used.

Last week, school administrators proposed putting magnet elementary schools on the single-track year-round calendar and nonmagnet schools on a multi-track year-round calendar. But it's not a blanket recommendation.

Administrators aren't recommending exempting Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon elementary schools from the multi-track calendar, in which students are split into four groups to increase the number of students who can be housed. The justification is that those three aren't typical magnet schools where a majority of students apply to go.

Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon are "equity magnets." When the program was started in 1982, most magnet schools were inside the Raleigh Beltline to lure suburban students. To ease grumbling, the district also made some schools in the other towns equity magnets to give those students the same access to unique classes.

Combs, Farmington Woods, Lincoln Heights and Millbrook elementaries also might not go multi-track. Administrators hope to get a better feel about what magnet schools to include at next week's board meetings.

All the magnet schools inside the Raleigh Beltline, though, are recommended for single-track.

Administrators justify not putting those schools on the multi-track calendar because they say many are too small to add capacity. Also, they hope that the single-track calendar, which has a longer summer vacation than multi-track schools, could be a way to make sure the magnet schools keep drawing applicants.

Odyssey of the Mind

Students from three Wake County regular public and charter schools have qualified for the world finals of the Odyssey of the Mind competition.

Exploris Middle School, Davis Drive Elementary and Partnership Elementary excelled at the state finals this month at Appalachian State University. Students competed in events such as designing and building a balsa wood structure to see how much weight it would hold, and creating and presenting an original performance that included a scene in ancient Egypt.

The world finals will be held May 24-27 at Iowa State. Students usually have to raise their own money to attend.