A Microscope on Magnet Schools, 1983-1986. Volume 2: Pupil and Parent Outcomes

This report is the fifth in a series of studies on 14 elementary magnet schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. The focus is over a three-year period from 1983 through the 1985-86 school year. Ten of the elementary schools are from the Montgomery Blair High School area and four are in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School area. In addition to providing quality education, these programs are intended to improve the racial balance among schools by attracting and retaining pupils needed for racial balance. First, background and study methods are discussed. The next chapter focuses upon the findings concerning pupil attitudes and social interaction. A chapter is devoted to academic achievement discussion. Finally, parental involvement and satisfaction with the magnet schools are discussed. Appended are: (1) school sample and measures for the nonacademic analyses; (2) technical notes on the academic sample, measures, and analyses; and (3) magnet and nonmagnet school sample for parent interviews. (SI)