One of the biggest draws of Wichita’s public education sys­tem is the range of school choices available here. Regardless of their neighborhood, students living within the district can apply to any of its 26 magnet schools, each of which is geared toward a particular area of student interest or need.

“We firmly believe that education doesn’t come in ‘one size fits all,’” says Susan Arensman, communications spe­cialist for Wichita Public Schools. “We have some in technology, some in per­forming arts, some very traditional with a strong emphasis on academics, some science-and-math focused,” she notes, referring to the system’s plethora of magnet choices.

To make evaluating those options a little easier, the district holds the Choices Fair – an annual one-stop “shopping” event where parents can meet repre­sentatives from all the schools and get information about each. It takes place in the early spring, shortly before the deadline for magnet school applications.

“We like to think we offer lots of choices – including the neighborhood schools,” Arensman says. “We encourage parents to visit the schools and talk with the teachers and other parents to get a feel for what is right for them.”

Roughly half of each magnet’s enroll­ment comes from its neighborhood; the rest is selected through the application process. Total enrollment for Wichita’s magnet programs was about 9,300 in 2007-2008.

The newest addition to the magnet roster, Gordon Parks Academy, opened in fall 2008. The K-8 school, located at 2201 E. 25th N. near the Boys and Girls Club, is pursuing International Baccalaureate status [a process that can take up to three years], which means it has rigorous curriculum and high per­formance standards. An on-site clinic, GraceMed, provides medical and dental care for area children and adults.

Gordon Parks joins Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet – an English/Spanish immersion program – as the district’s second K-8 academy.

Wichita Public Schools has 19 ele­mentary [K-5], two K-8, four middle schools and one high school that are magnets. Specialized curricula include health and wellness, international studies, multimedia, computer technology, lit­eracy, performing arts, cultural and fine arts, visual art, science, law and traditional studies.

Whatever the focus, “the emphasis is on the kids thriving,” Arensman says.

She further notes that, except for Gordon Parks Academy – which the school district initiated, all the magnet schools have been sparked by parents’ desire. Typically, the process involved parents identifying a need, conducting research, establishing partnerships with and seeking support from members of the business community, and finally, making a formal proposal to the board of education.

With parents so closely involved in the development of their children’s schools, freedom of choice and high- quality public education on par with expensive private schools has been the result.