Wake County to host magnet, early college fair

Wake County Public School System will host a magnet and early college schools fair on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The annual event offers parents and students an opportunity to learn more about Wake's magnet and early college options. Representatives from each of the schools will be on hand to share information and answer questions.

The fair will be held Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at Enloe High School, 128 Clarendon Crescent in Raleigh.

Before you go, be sure to find out what magnet school options are available for your address so you can ensure that the schools you talk to are ones your child can actually attend. Wake schools has a handy address look up page to do that.

The application periods for Wake County Public School System's Early College and Crossroads FLEX programs, for high school students, runs through Dec. 14.

For magnet and year-round schools, it runs through Jan. 25.

Families will be notified of the results on Feb. 23.

It's important to note that decisions are not made on a first come, first served basis, so you do not need to scramble this month to figure out what schools you're going to apply to. Instead, to determine where students attend, the school system relies on a complicated decision tree that includes the socioeconomic status of a student's neighborhood and the school where they are applying. The goal of magnet schools, in particular, is to promote diverse school populations and make sure schools aren't filled with a high number of low-income students.

To find out more about open houses and school tours, visit the WCPSS Open House page.