Frequently Asked Questions

For the 24-25 school year, all applications will be online at www.stamfordpublicschools.org in September 2023.  Parents can apply to all five elementary magnet schools including Hart, Rogers, Strawberry Hill (Grades K-8), Toquam and Westover. For middle school, parents can apply to Strawberry Hill, Rogers, and Scofield for grades 6, 7, and 8. For high school, parents can apply to AITE. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please contact us either by phone or email at spslottery@stamfordct.gov.

Elementary, K-8, and Middle Magnet School Lottery Timeline

• The deadline for submitting Elementary, K-8, and Middle Magnet School Lottery applications is at 4:00 p.m. on January 15. 
• The lottery drawing will be held on February 15 and acceptances are due on March 8.
• *If dates fall on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the date will be moved to the next business day.

High School Magnet School Lottery Timeline for AITE

• The deadline for submitting AITE Magnet School Lottery applications is 4:00 p.m. on January 15. 
• The lottery drawing will be held on February 15 and acceptances are due on March 8.
• *If dates fall on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the date will be moved to the next business day.

The magnet schools enroll students from all parts of Stamford; the districted elementary schools enroll students from designated attendance areas.  All magnet and districted schools implement Connecticut standards in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music and Physical Education.

The magnet elementary and middle schools have the following themes:

*Please visit the individual school websites for additional information about the Magnet Program.

Presentations about the Stamford Public School Magnet School programs each hold information sessions throughout the fall. Dates can be found on the Magnet School's homepage or HERE. These presentations will explain and answer questions about magnet school admission and individual school's programs. The presentations will be recorded and posted to the Magnet Schools website and the individual school's websites. Information about the magnet lottery process and descriptions of each of the magnet schools is posted HERE.

By Board of Education policy, the magnet schools exist to help the school district mange enrollment and balance all schools to the +/-10% integration standard of the district.  The magnet schools also provide educational choice for parents.

Next steps will be:

• The Elementary, K-8, and Middle School Magnet School Lottery deadline to apply is January 15, the drawing will be held on February 15 and acceptances are due on March 8.
• The AITE Magnet School Lottery deadline to apply is January 15, the drawing will be held on February 15 and acceptances are due on  March 8.
• *If dates fall on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the date will be moved to the next business day.
• On-line acceptance invitations will be provided to parents within one week of the lottery drawing. Parents will have three weeks to respond on-line to magnet invitations. Once a parent accepts a seat in a magnet school, the child's name will be withdrawn from the waiting lists of the other magnet schools to which the parent may have applied. If a response is not received within that time period, their child will be removed from the list, and the next child on the lottery list will be invited to enroll.
• After acceptances, declines or "no responses" to on-line invitations are received, offers of invitation to parents of students on the waiting lists will be made by email. Parents will have five school days to respond. If a response is not received within that time period, the next child on the lottery list will be invited to enroll.

Stamford Public Schools will host a virtual presentation to provide information on Magnet Schools in general and each Magnet School will also host public information sessions share information about the program and to answer questions from parents. The presentations will be recorded and posted to the Magnet Schools website and the individual schools' websites. You may also call us at the listed phone numbers or email spslottery@stamfordct.gov with questions about magnet schools or magnet school admission.