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High School Magnet Program Scoring Guidelines

Note: Not all schools use all of the admission criteria listed below.   Point values for each admission criterion listed below may differ between programs and schools.

See the Audition/Assessment Guidelines
from the specific school/program for details.

In order to qualify for admission into a high school magnet program, applicants must earn at least 80% of the program’s assessment criteria points. 

Mathematics Enrollment in Algebra I or Higher
For programs that use math enrollment as a criterion:

• If the grade 9 applicant is currently enrolled in Algebra I or higher, the applicant will receive full credit.
• If the grade 9 applicant is currently enrolled in Algebraic Thinking 2, the applicant will receive half credit.
• If the grade 9 applicant is currently enrolled in Pre-Algebra, Math 8, or a lower mathematics course, the applicant will receive no credit.
• If the grade 10 or 11 applicant is currently enrolled in Algebra II, geometry, or a higher level of math, the applicant will receive full credit.
• If the grade 10 or 11 applicant is currently enrolled in Algebra I, the applicant will receive half credit.
• If the grade 10 or 11 applicant is currently enrolled in a course below Algebra I, the applicant will receive no credit.
• If the applicant’s math course is not listed as Algebra I or Algebra II, the office DOES NOT assume it is an algebra course; the course level must be verified with the current school.

Grade Calculation

• A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, E=0 – Five quarters (or four trimesters) are used. Final year grades are not considered in the calculation.
• If any quarter is missing, it will be recorded as INCOMPLETE and the parent/guardian will be contacted for additional information.
• Scale (rounded up to nearest tenth):
• A = 3.5-4.0
• B = 2.5-3.4
• C = 1.5-2.4
• D = 0.5-1.4
• E = 0-0.4
• Score
• Applicant receives full points for required minimum average.
• Applicant receives zero points for less than required minimum average.
• Baltimore County Public Schools defines letter grades in Superintendent’s Rule 5220. Letter grades from non-BCPS schools will be reviewed as written on the report card and will not be converted to any other letter grade.

Performance Factors (previous year’s report card only)

• Only performance factors for LA/SS/Science/Math on the previous year’s report card are counted and divided by total number (40 on BCPS report card).
• If 80% of performance factors are rated as satisfactory or above, applicant receives full points – 32/40 on BCPS report card.
• If less than 80% satisfactory, applicant receives zero points.

Unlawful Absence or Tardiness (previous and current year combined)

• If attendance/promptness is 94% or higher, applicant receives full points - 14 days absent/tardy or less.
• If attendance/promptness is less than 94%, applicant receives zero points - 15 days absent/tardy or more.
• Method: Divide number of days absent or tardy by 225 days (180+45).
• When necessary, middle schools will be contacted for lawful/unlawful count.

On-site Assessments

• On-site assessments are scored by the schools and scores are submitted to the magnet office.
• Students who do not attend on-site assessments will not be considered for admission.

Missing Items

• Applicant is scored INCOMPLETE for any item that is not included.
• One phone call will be placed to number on application to request information.
• Application will not be processed if information is not received prior to Winter break.

When there are more qualified applicants than program seats, in accordance with Superintendent’s Rule 6130, a random lottery is used to select qualified applicants for placement in the program.  Qualified applicants who are not offered admission are place on a waiting list for that program.