Eighth graders and eligible students are invited to attend the 2011 Magnet School Fair from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Road.

Applications are being accepted for the 2011-12 school year for all five NISD magnet programs, which include Business Careers, Communications Arts, and Health Careers high schools, and Construction Careers and Science and Engineering academies.

Northside magnet schools offer a focused, career-specific education for students who show an interest in a particular field or know what career path they want to take. Today, more than 2,900 students are enrolled in NISD magnet programs.

For a complete description and contact information for each program, please read the NISD Magnet Schools brochure. And here's a flyer that includes the date and time of the Magnet School Fair and phone numbers for all the magnet schools.

The deadline to submit an application to attend a magnet school is Feb. 18. Enrollment is limited at each school.

All Northside eighth graders are eligible for enrollment, and some schools do accept applications from students already in high school and from outside the District. Please check with individual programs for applications and age and residency requirements.

At the Magnet School Fair, representatives will be available to provide details about the program and information on the application process.

Students and their families also are welcome to visit the magnet schools for a tour on the following evenings:
 

In addition, representatives of the magnet schools will be giving presentations and passing out applications at each middle school campus on the following dates: