magnet school

American  

noun

1. a public school with special programs and instruction that are not available elsewhere in a school district and that are specially designed to draw students from throughout a district, especially to aid in desegregation.

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magnet school British  

noun

1. a school that provides a focus on one subject area throughout its curriculum in order to attract, often from an early age, pupils who wish to specialize in this subject

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Etymology

Origin of magnet school

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

By far the biggest factor in admission, however, is whether an applicant has matriculated from another magnet school and how long an applicant has been on the waiting list for a magnet school.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026

When I went to an arts magnet school, I majored in literary arts, and I wrote my first play in seventh grade.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025

Aden said she’ll be relieved when Nora starts attending the magnet school next year.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2024

The following summer, as the residents of Pointe-aux-Chenes struggled to make it back to the bayou, the Louisiana state legislature voted unanimously to reopen Pointe-aux-Chenes Elementary as a French-language magnet school.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2023

Her elementary school is a magnet school, so even though we moved across town, she can still keep going there.

From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks