Mansfield ISD Magazine Fall 2020 | Page 17

MANSFIELD ISD PREPARES TO OPEN NEW SCHOOLS OF CHOICE

In Mansfield ISD , parents and students have the opportunity to choose the educational pathway that is the best fit for them , even if it is located outside of their designated attendance zone .

The offerings range from twoway dual language programs and leadership academies to science , technology , engineering and math ( STEM ) academies and an Early College High School .
For fall 2021 , the district will expand its offerings even more .
Three STEM programs will be added within the newly built Brenda Norwood Elementary School , Alma Martinez Intermediate School and Charlene McKinzey Middle School .
At Norwood Elementary and Martinez Intermediate , there will also be a fine arts academy .
Elementary and fifth- and sixthgraders at Martinez Intermediate . The STEM Academy at McKinzey Middle School will be available to students in grades 7-8 .
Mansfield ISD held a Power of Choice Virtual Expo on Saturday , Oct . 24 to provide an overview of the district ’ s STEM , fine arts and Early College High School programs . The event was geared toward students entering grades 3-9 in the 2021-22 school year .
Additional parent meetings will be held in November before the application window for the choice programs opens in January 2021 .
“ The Power of Choice initiative is a very unique feature of Mansfield ISD and gives students the incredible opportunity to pursue something they ’ re passionate about ,” said Jennifer Young , chief innovation officer . “ They can start that as early as kindergarten and take that all the way up through high school .”
All students wishing to be in a STEM or fine arts academy must apply , even if they are already zoned to one of the schools .
Other choice programs include the district ’ s various leadership academies and new science , technology , engineering , arts and math ( STEAM ) academy .
If a student is accepted into a STEM academy , fine arts academy , two-way dual language program or the Early College High School , transportation is provided .
View more information about MISD ’ s Power of Choice at www . mansfieldisd . org / choice .
“ I think the thing that ’ s unique about the fine arts integration academies is that we ’ re taking those core academic subjects our students have to go through — math , science , social studies , English language arts — and we ’ re finding some new ways to integrate all four of the fine arts disciplines — art , music , dance and theatre — into those cores subjects ,” said Dr . Russell Sanders , director of fine arts .
The new fine arts and STEM academies will be available for third- and fourth-graders at Norwood
The choice schools will continue holding parent meetings through the fall .
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