APPLICATION INFORMATION

• • Late applications for IB (entering middle school and high school) will be accepted until August 16, 2024.

  • Late applications for STEM BioMedical (BMAH) for high school will be accepted until August 16, 2024.

    • STEM MS and STEM HS do not accept late applications. 

    •  Apex Arts is not longer accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year.

  Application protocols for Magnet Programs (Apex Arts, BMAH, IB, STEM):

  • Current AACPS students should use their lunch ID as their application username and password, also used to access the computers at school and Brightspace. 

  • Please use a computer to apply (not a phone).

  • The Magnet Office evaluates applications from October-January.

  • Auditions are held for Apex Arts (See www.aacps.org/apexarts for details.)

  • An unweighted lottery is held in February.

  • NB: Non-AACPS students create a username and password combination when beginning the online application. 

    • The Magnet Office cannot reset passwords. Contact the Help Desk at 410-222-5135 for password resets.

    • The same application system is used for Magnet Programs, JROTC, CAT Centers, Charter/Contract Schools, and Virtual Academy. 

  • Current fourth and seventh grade students:  Plan ahead for School Year 2024-2025: Magnet applications will open at noon on October 7, 2024; they close at noon on November 7, 2024.

   

Anne Arundel County Public Schools proudly offer three distinct Magnet Programs for county middle and high school students. 

• International Baccalaureate (IB),
• Apex Arts, and
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), including the healthcare industry with Biomedical Allied Health (BMAH).

In these programs, students explore their interests, talents, and abilities in a hands-on, highly specialized and rigorous instructional setting. They learn the skills, techniques, and issues that are current and relevant within their field of study. Students take both pride and ownership in being a part of a Magnet Program as they prepare themselves to be future leaders.

 Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Anne Arundel ofrece tres programas Magnet distintos para estudiantes del colegio (middle school) y de secundaria (high school / liceo).

• International Baccalaureate (IB),
• Apex Arts, and
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), including the healthcare industry with Biomedical Allied Health (BMAH).  

En estos programas, los estudiantes exploran sus intereses, talentos y habilidades en un entorno práctico, altamente especializado y riguroso. Aprenden las habilidades, técnicas y temas que son actuales y relevantes dentro de su campo de estudio. Los estudiantes se enorgullecen y se apropian de ser parte de un Programa Magnet mientras se preparan para ser futuros líderes.

Junior Reserve Officers' Corps (JROTC). Beginning in the 22/23 school year, students from around the county will be able to apply for a seat in JROTC programs located at three of our county's high schools. As with the Magnet Programs, geographic zones will be created, and transportation will be provided. Further details regarding transportation will be provided closer to the beginning of the school year. JROTC programs will remain partial-day programs with students attending the JROTC school for periods 3 and 4. This schedule will allow them to remain members of the home school community while pursuing JROTC. Due to long-standing partnerships and the Board-approved Memorandum of Understanding with the Armed Forces, the JROTC schools will continue to consist of a 60% participation of students from the JROTC school, leaving 40% of the seats available through the application and potential lottery process.

Through partnerships with the United States Army (Meade HS), Marines (Northeast HS), and Navy (Annapolis HS), instructors from all three branches prepare students in grades 9–12 for leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, and privileges as American citizens through rigorous instruction and hands-on activities. Skills emphasized across all three branches are leadership, citizenship, physical fitness, and character.

JROTC prepares students for life and they are not under any obligation to join the military. However, if they choose to further their interest in the military, satisfactory completion of the JROTC program can lead to advanced placement credit in the Senior ROTC program (college level) or advanced rank in any of the Armed Forces. With the onset of the 2023-24 school year, AACPS is moving to a cluster structure for all three JROTC Leadership Programs (see below). Clusters have been created based on the home high school of student participants and will be supported with transportation. Parallel to the CAT Center concept of participation, the JROTC programs will remain partial-day programs with students attending the host site for periods 3 and 4 on an alternating day basis. This schedule will allow them to remain members of the home school community while pursuing JROTC.

If your home high school is • Annapolis • Broadneck • Crofton • South River • Southern, your JROTC Program is Navy JROTC at Annapolis High School.  See the website for additional details. Navy JROTC Cluster Annapolis High School 

If your home high school is  • Arundel • Glen Burnie • Meade • North County, your JROTC Program is Army JROTC at Meade High School. See the website for additional details. Army JROTC Meade High School

If your home high school is • Chesapeake • Northeast • Old Mill • Severn Run • Severna Park, your JROTC Program is Marine JROTC at Northeast High School.  See the website for additional details. Marine JROTC Cluster Northeast High School

To apply to JROTC, click on the APPLY NOW button on the main page of the Magnet website.