Manual’s admission process may become a lottery, based on a proposal that Dr. Robert Rodosky, JCPS Chief of Data Management, Planning, and Program Evaluation, will make at the JCPS school board work session on Monday, May 11 at 5 p.m.

If the JCPS Board of Education favors Rodosky’s proposal, it would be added to future board meeting agendas and could eventually be put to a vote. Its passage could affect all JCPS magnet programs starting with the 2016-2017 school year.

According to the proposal, a lottery-based admission process for JCPS would allow equal consideration for applicants who have a stanine of at least four, along with other basic criteria such as behavior. The current application process is competitive, comparing grades, standardized test scores, recommendations, attendance records, auditions and essays among applicants.

The proposal comes after the 2014 Magnet Schools of America recommendations for JCPS, which called for greater transparency in magnet admissions but does not specifically advise that Manual transition to a lottery system. “DuPont Manual High School should remain selective but add a transparent application process that is clear, accessible, and outlines entrance criteria,” the MSA said in its report.

As outlined in the PowerPoint that Dr. Rodosky will present in the school board work session, the proposed lottery system will increase transparency in the application process to magnet schools and programs, a factor that MSA found lacking in their review.

Under the proposal, admissions for middle and high school magnets would be based solely on attendance, behavior, test scores, and grade point average. According to the proposal, these proposed criteria are based on public feedback. It is not clear how this new system would apply to audition-based magnets such as Manual’s YPAS and VA.

With the lottery system, the application process would occur in three steps. First, the board would determine Manual’s current capacity, review each applicant through the lens of the four new criteria, and then randomly select students who meet that criteria. For now, the board is still gathering public feedback on any adjustments that need to be made to the proposed system.

The goals of this new lottery system, according to the proposal, are to improve the application experience of parents, promote consistency with other schools in the district, and to “enhance equal access for all student groups.”

Maria Sorolis, the PTSA’s Advocacy Chair, said the proposed changes would be detrimental to Manual’s culture.

“I fear that the goal of having all schools ‘pass the test’ so there are no failing schools has caused people to lose sight of the real goal—which is great education.  Parents don’t care how their school scores—they care if their student is learning and advancing and maximizing their abilities,” Sorolis said. “I don’t think most people ‘hate’ Manual—I think they just want similar opportunities for their children.”

Mr. Jerry Mayes (Principal) agrees that the changes would have a drastic influence on the school.

“I know what the district is trying to do. The district is trying to solve a very tough problem, and that is for equity and everything else, and it’s a tough job,” Mr. Mayes said. “But we feel like here at Manual, we serve a certain set of students that want a more rigorous curriculum. We don’t necessarily have the best students, we have kids that want hard work, rigor, whatever it’s going to take to get them to the next level.”

In an email to Manual parents, Ann Schwartz, the PTSA’s Magnet Liaison for MST, also described the lottery process as a disadvantage to Manual. “The rigor of the school will decrease and become like all the other schools in JCPS,” Schwartz wrote. She suggested that parents and students write to JCPS representatives, attend the board meeting on Monday, and spread the word to others.

“I believe there are a couple different plans being discussed and the impact on Manual and JCPS as a whole has yet to be determined,” Assistant Principal Greg Kuhn said. “There are a variety of very strong feelings and opinions from any angle.”

Destinee Siebe (12, YPAS) believes that this application system would ruin the merit of Manual’s current magnet program.

“How would talent-based magnets even work?” Siebe said. “We simply couldn’t retain the quality of the programs if we’re not choosing the most talented and motivated.”

Andrew Valentine (11, MST), who also disagrees with the proposal, believes that Manual has built a reputation for itself by attracting top students but agrees that the current application system should be changed.

“While there is certainly a need to try to get different students into the school, we also don’t want to lower the chances of the best students getting into the magnet schools; that’s the whole reason why they exist,” Valentine said. “Something needs to change, but a pure lottery system isn’t the best solution.”

RedEye reached out to Dr. Rodosky for comment on Sunday evening. JCPS Communications Generalist Mandy Simpson replied back on behalf of Dr. Rodosky Monday evening, with a suggestion to attend the meeting.