Principal’s Message

Magnet Status Review – Information for IA Families

It’s hard to believe we are already through the first half of the semester. I’m glad to see our students doing great things.

I wanted to take a quick moment to touch base about the Magnet Status Review that we will send out late next week. We are required by the school board to review our students’ engagement with the magnet program and determine how each student is doing against our program expectations.

Before getting into the requirements, I wanted to discuss our philosophy behind this review. It is not the school’s intent to remove students from IA. Honestly, I see it as a failure the few times we have had to remove a student. But understandably, since we have a specific program and maintain a waitlist of students hoping to join our school, our school board wants to ensure that students are meeting our expectations.

Most of our students are performing well and will receive a letter letting them and their families know they are in good standing. For students who receive a warning, it’s important to understand that you do not need to panic. A warning does not trigger removal from the school or any other punitive action. It is simply information letting students and families know what needs to improve to avoid being placed on probation at the end of the semester.

Even if a student is currently on probation, receiving another warning does not change their probation status. It provides information about what they need to improve to avoid remaining on probation for a second consecutive semester.

At the end of the semester, we will review students again to see if they have made the necessary improvements. Students who have addressed their areas of concern will not be placed on probation, or may be removed from probation if they were already on it.

If a student is placed on probation, this is a more formal notice that they are not meeting our magnet expectations. Students will have the following semester to improve their performance and return to good standing.

Where we definitely start to get worried is when students remain on probation for more than one semester. At that point, we bring their situation to our Magnet Review Committee. This is where a recommendation for removal becomes a possibility, but it is not automatic.

When the committee meets, we review each student’s individual circumstances with counselors, administrators, and our SGC teachers. We look for improvement in areas of concern, extenuating circumstances, and the student’s overall record, including discipline, attendance, academic performance, and engagement with their pathway.

Most students are able to improve their standing because we provide clear, concrete steps to help them get back on track. Even among students who reach the committee, most are not recommended for removal.

I will say, though, that students who remain on probation for multiple semesters, make little effort to improve, and do not engage with their counselors and administrators when they are struggling may ultimately be recommended for removal. While I don’t want to lose any students, I am obligated to follow this process and ensure that students are making a genuine effort to meet our expectations.

I want to reiterate that receiving a warning, or even being placed on probation, is not the end of the world. It is important information that allows students and families to realign their efforts with our expectations.

IA Magnet Program Requirements

Below is a summary of the magnet requirements for your review.

Area	Magnet expectation
GT Block	Successfully complete the 9th-grade GT Block. Students who do not pass will receive an individualized recovery plan.
Career Pathway	Successfully complete one approved sequence of pathway courses offered at IA.
End-of-Pathway Assessment (EOPA)	Take the assessment for the student’s pathway. Students are not required to pass the exam.
Pinnacle Project	Successfully complete a Pinnacle Project, normally during 11th grade, with an opportunity for recovery during senior year.
Pathway Enrichment	Complete 12 enrichment credits annually, totaling 48 over four years, through approved Flex Friday pathway sessions or other pre-approved experiences.
Academics	Maintain successful progress in core academic courses. Failure of core content courses triggers administrative review.
Attendance	Maintain at least 90% attendance and no more than 10 late arrivals or early checkouts annually. Medical exceptions may be approved by administration, and extended absences should receive prior approval.
Discipline	Follow the FCS Student Code of Conduct. Repeated Tier I or II referrals may trigger review. Long-term suspension or expulsion results in loss of the privilege to attend IA.
Technology Compliance	Follow district technology, responsible-use, and device agreements, including ethical and appropriate use of technology resources.
Continuous Enrollment	Maintain continuous enrollment at IA. Students who withdraw or experience a break in enrollment are not eligible to return under the published requirements.

The complete requirements are available on our website: FCS Innovation Academy Magnet Program Requirements.

All students will receive a Magnet Status Review letter near the end of next week with an update on their current standing.

If you have questions after receiving your letter, please pay attention to the contact listed for each area of review and the concrete actions your student can take to improve their standing. Our goal is to ensure that every student understands where they stand and has a clear path forward.

Principal’s Message