Hi planetmort.

Magnets are the federal desegregation program, and the deadline is in January. SAS deadlines are typically in May.

There are schools where on the same campus there is a magnet, an SAS program, and a regular school.

I wouldn't say the programs are necessarily the same, but they would be similar. In magnets, priority is given to kids based on their points in the lottery. In SAS, the priority is to neighborhood kids (it's their in-school gifted program), and assuming there is room, then students can apply from outside the school's boundaries. In addition, open enrollment is another April-May option, where schools with openings allow families to apply.

You're welcome. What area are you looking?

Just compiling info for now (I'm in Sunland; you know me :-) ) . Your explanation makes sense; I just got confused since the entrance criteria for the gifted magnets and the SAS programs seemed the same.

Hello all, my husband and I researched and researched schools from private to public and charter. We just removed our children from a charter school, since the quality teachers left and for many other reasons. I made sure to send out the applications for the Mag schools and received the letters which are good. But I also wanted to know about the SAS program too. But my only concerned are the Matriculation points from graduation. We are looking at LACES for my daughter next transition. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Hi Shebamorning, as you saw, charter schools can be a little dicey here in Los Angeles. Some are great, but some get a reputation as being better simply by NOT being LAUSD. That's not saying much.

There are ways to keep accruing magnet points if your child were to get into an SAS to keep your options open. Essentially you apply to magnets you have little or no chance of getting in to. The downside is there is always a miniscule chance your child gets in and then you're faced with another choice.

LACES starts in sixth grade. I'm not sure how old your children are, but essentially you want to get rejected three times starting in second grade, then again in third and again in fourth. When you go apply in fifth grade FOR sixth grade you'd have the same points (12) as a student matriculating from a 5th grade magnet.

Let me know if you'd like more specific help.