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Communication Magnet
Curriculum
Eligibility
Recruitment
Application Process
Application Materials
The Grady Communication Magnet, located on the Henry W. Grady High School campus in Midtown, is one of seven magnet programs in the Atlanta Public Schools.
[View APS Magnet Program Overview: Page 1(word) and Page 2 (word).]
A magnet program develops a special emphasis within a high school setting.
In the Grady magnet program, students supplement their college preparatory course of study with elective courses to gain a competitive edge in effective communication skills for a profession in mass media or for any chosen career.
Note: At Grady High School, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are open to all students and are not restricted to students in the magnet program. Additionally, students in the magnet take their core classes (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language) and non-magnet electives with students from the larger school population.
Curriculum
First-year students take the following one-semester electives: journalism, oral communication (policy debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, drama or public speaking) and computer applications.
Second-year students take the following one-semester electives: journalism and fine arts (music, chorus or art).
Third-year students select an area of emphasis to explore for both semesters of their junior and senior years. Those areas include: print journalism (newspaper or magazine), broadcast journalism (Grady News Network), desktop publishing (yearbook), creative writing (literary magazine), design, oral communication (drama/debate).
Magnet Program publications can be found here.
Eligibility
The program is available to students residing within the district of Atlanta Public Schools. Applicants must be in the eighth or ninth grades and meet the following requirements:
• A grade of 85 or above in language arts.
• A GPA of 85 or above in core curriculum.
• Good attendance and conduct (As and Bs).
• Recommendations from the current English teacher and another core curriculum teacher.
• Completion of application addendum with commendable writing sample.
• A commitment to academic achievement.
• Parental approval and support.
Recruitment process
The magnet coordinator, teachers and students host a Magnet Open House. This year the open house will be on Thursday, November 15, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the main theater. After the program there will be special session for prospective parents and students. The Magnet Coordinator will also be visiting the public and charter middle schools within Atlanta Public Schools during the month of November.
Application process
The magnet only accepts applications from rising ninth-graders (system-wide) and rising tenth-graders (within the Grady zone only). The magnet typically accepts 120 rising ninth-graders from across the school system. The number of rising tenth-graders who are accepted is determined by the number of available spaces due to attrition; typically, that number is around five.
A. Eighth Grade APS Students Applying to the Grady Magnet
This is the only time that students are admitted into the magnet program from outside of Grady’s zone.
1. The eighth grade guidance counselors will distribute the APS application and the Grady application addendum to students.
2. Students complete the APS application and Grady application addendum (including statement of interest and essay).
3. Students obtain teacher recommendations from their current English teacher and a core teacher of their choice (science, social studies, or math). They must also obtain a guidance counselor’s recommendation.
4. The completed APS application, Grady application addendum, and two teacher recommendations must be submitted back to the eighth grade guidance counselor by January 18, 2008.
5. Guidance counselors attach the counselor’s recommendation, transcript, and fall semester grades and submit the applications to SRT-5.
B. Non-APS Eighth Grade Students Applying to the Grady Magnet (For example, students who currently attend private schools. The student must reside within Atlanta Public Schools’ zone.)
1. Parents must obtain an A.P.S. Magnet Application from the Office of the Executive Director of High Schools located at Crim High School, 256 Clifton Road. When picking up the application, the parents must show proof of residence (utility bill, etc.). Deadline: January 18, 2008.
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2. Students must obtain a Grady application addendum, two teacher recommendation forms, and a guidance counselor recommendation form from Carrie MacBrien, Magnet Coordinator, room C326, Grady High School, or download the materials from the website: www.gradyhighschool.org, then “Academics” followed by “Communication Magnet.”
3. Students complete the application addendum (including statement of interest and essay) and mail it to Ms. MacBrien postmarked by January 18, 2008.
4. Students request teacher recommendations from their current English teacher and a core teacher of their choice (science, social studies, or math). They must also request a guidance counselor’s recommendation.
5. The teachers and guidance counselor mail the completed recommendations directly to Ms. MacBrien by January 18, 2008.
6. The students’ current middle schools must mail official transcripts and eighth grade fall semester grades to Ms. MacBrien by January 18, 2008.
7. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that these materials are received by Ms. MacBrien by the deadlines.
Mailing address:
Carrie MacBrien
Magnet Coordinator
Grady High School
929 Charles Allen Drive
Atlanta, GA 30309
C. Current Grady Ninth Grade Students Applying to the Grady Magnet
1. Students should see Ms. MacBrien in room C326 at the beginning of May, 2008, to obtain applications.
2. Students obtain teacher recommendations from their current English teacher and a core teacher of their choice (science, social studies, or math). They must also request a guidance counselor’s recommendation. Recommendations should be returned to the student in sealed and signed envelopes.
3. Students submit the completed application addendum (including statement of interest and essay), two teacher recommendations, and guidance counselor’s recommendation to Ms. MacBrien by May 30, 2008.
4. Ms. MacBrien will obtain a copy of the transcript and spring semester grades.
A completed application includes:
- Atlanta Public Schools’ Magnet Application
- Grady Magnet Application Addendum
- Two teachers’ recommendations (one English; one science, social studies, or math)
- Guidance counselor’s recommendation
- Middle school transcript
- Most recent semester grade report
No late applications are accepted.
Students who are accepted into the magnet and their parents must sign a participation agreement.
Links to Application Materials:
Grady Application Addendum
Teacher Recommendation form
Guidance Counselor’s Recommendation
Application Essay Scoring Rubric
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