Magnet Academies
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Welcome
- About the Programs
- Beacon Academy of Media and Digital Arts
- Gifted and Talented Academy (soon to be the International Baccalaureate Academy pending approval)
- Science, Engineering and Technology Academy
- Visual and Performing Arts Academy
- WLISA (soon to be Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Action, and Design Academy pending approval)
- District U-46 Magnet Application Information
- Magnet Academies Booklet
- Magnet Academy Survey - Full Report
- Contact Us
- School District U-46
- Welcome
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The Magnet Academy application window is now closed for the 2022-23 school year.
You can view your application status here: https://apply.u-46.org/
Here is a link to the Recommendation Templates, as always, traditional letters of recommendation are welcome.
For technical assistance, email magnetacademies@u-46.org

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Unique to Chicagoland's Fox Valley, the School District U-46 Magnet Academy programs are designed to take high school students to new levels of creative, interdisciplinary learning and give them a head start on higher education. With a program housed in each district high school, magnet academy students tackle an intense curriculum in dedicated facilities with the latest learning materials and state-of-the-art equipment that complements each program's focus.Students are admitted through an application and review process. Eighth graders will submit completed Magnet Academy applications online. Eighth graders can apply for admission to one of the five Magnet Academy programs:
- BEACON Academy of Media and Digital Arts at South Elgin High School
- International Baccalaureate Candidate Academy* - Pending Approval (Previously the Gifted and Talented Academy) at Elgin High School
- Science, Engineering and High Technology Academy at Bartlett High School
- Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Larkin High School
- Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Action, and Design (LEAD) Academy - Pending Approval (Previously the World Languages and International Studies Academy) at Streamwood High School
For more information on the application process, look under "News and Information" on this page. General questions about the Magnet Academies can be sent to magnetacademies@u-46.org.
*Elgin High School Academy is a Candidate School** for the Diploma Programme. This academy is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that Elgin High School believes is important for our students.
**Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
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Magnet Application Information in English or Spanish, or you can view the September 14, 2020 BOE meeting when district leaders presented the current admission and selection process on the U-46 YouTube channel starting at about 1:47.
News and Information
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A Letter from Superintendent Sanders about Magnet Academy Admissions
"Equity and access. Are they just buzzwords, or will we really take the steps necessary to address inequities?"
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Elgin High School International Baccalaureate Magnet Academy Curriculum Committee - September 18, 2020
Committee Purpose: The curriculum and programming for the Elgin High School Academy is being redesigned as part of the district-wide transition to Educational Pathways.
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Bartlett High School Magnet Academy Curriculum Committee - September 18, 2020
Committee Purpose: The curriculum and programming for the Bartlett High School Academy is being redesigned as part of the district-wide transition to Educational Pathways.