Should Your Kid Apply To Clark Magnet High School?

The deadline to apply to is on March 4, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. How do you know if your kid should apply, and what are the benefits?

Clark teachers and students routinely make headlines for their accomplishments. Art and technology teacher and a group of five in scholarship money in the Lexus Eco Challenge. with stellar accomplishments- senior Saro Meguerdijian invented a device that extracts chromium out of drinking water.

Clark accepts 300 students to its incoming freshman class. But, around 500 applications are expected for the 2011-12 year, according to Dr. Alex Rojas, Director of Educational Services at Glendale Unified School District. When more students apply than there are spots, a lottery is held for eligible applicants. Competition can be stiff and no preference is given to siblings.

“What Clark is interested in is not looking at screening kids out, but screening kids in,” said Rojas. “We want to look at their basic academic performance. What are their testing skills like? What’s the potential for success? Second is the reason why they want to go. Is it because their friends are going, or do they have a passion for technology? …The ideal candidate would have good academic potential and a clear idea of what they want to learn from Clark.”

Rojas said that Clark’s main appeal is its integration of technology into the classroom and the advanced skills kids graduate with that will benefit them at universities or in the working world.

Rojas said one advantage Clark graduates have is the knowledge of how to design something and then build it to prove that it works.

“A kid that leaves , they might have a 4.0 and are going to Cal Tech, but they’ve never built anything, They have the knowledge and the math and science… but they’re going to college continuing to study the theory.” said Rojas. “Kids in Clark, they design, but then in a team environment, they build it and see if it works. They get a real rich experience.”

Some skills Clark kids graduate with could even help fund their college education. Rojas said that a Clark student could get certified in Cisco networking before graduating, then work part time as a computer technician earning $30 per hour while studying Computer Science at a university.

Clark's extracurriculars and elective courses may come up short for certain students. Sports are not offered, but students may play on teams at one of the other Glendale high schools. Spanish is the only foreign language offered. In addition, Patch spoke to one Clark sophomore that said she .

Applicants are accepted from any 8th grader in public, parochial or private school who lives within the Glendale Unified School District, is eligible to begin 9th grade in the fall and meets eligibility requirements. Students in grades 9-11 may also apply, but space is extremely limited.

Students must have a 2.0 grade point average or higher, a satisfactory attendance record, exemplify good citizenship and behavior, be ready for algebra, and commit to spending at least one year at Clark.

Clark Magnet Application Checklist

Information Packet. Pick up an information packet from the Clark Magnet office or the Rosemont Middle School office.

Application Form. Application forms will be available from Clark or Rosemont beginning February 10.

Student Profile. Interested students must submit a Student Profile to their guidance counselor.

Clark EXPO. Parents and students should attend the Clark EXPO on Saturday February 26, 2011 at 9 :30 a.m. at the school.

Turn in the Application in Person. Applications are not accepted by mail. They must be turned in to the office of Student Support Services, 223 North Jackson Street, Room 203, Glendale CA 91206. Applications will be accepted up until Friday March 4, 2011 at 5 p.m. No exceptions will be granted.

For additional information, call the GUSD at (818) 241-3111, ext. 283.