Magnet and Desegregation Plan

The U.S. District Court has entered an order in the District's desegregation case which includes changes in the Catahoula, St. Martinville, Parks, and Breaux Bridge attendance zones as well as improvements in the Majority-to-Minority transfer program, among other things. On January 8, 2024, the District submitted a revised Magnet Implementation Plan (click on the link below to view), and is in the process of working with the Plaintiff Parties to revise the plan for final submission to the Court. 

Final Magnet Plan May 2025

 

*Please be advised the information in the plan above is not final, as dates and curriculum information may have changed during the revision process. Please contact magnet@saintmartinschools.org for more information. 

Access to Magnet Program Reports & Audits

The District is committed to transparency in the implementation of the Magnet Program. Parents, guardians, community stakeholders, and all interested individuals can access reports and audits related to the program, including surveys, monitoring reports, and other relevant documentation. These reports will be made available to the public through postings on the Magnet Program website.

As part of ongoing oversight, the District will continuously monitor student distribution and conduct audits of both applications and the application process. This includes tracking the racial demographics of applicants to ensure alignment with desegregation goals and equitable access for families across multiple zones in the parish. To support this effort, the District will map applicant addresses in real time to confirm that students from all eligible zones are represented among those applying and enrolling.

The Magnet Academies webpage will maintain a regularly updated chart displaying the racial demographics of enrolled students, as well as applicant and acceptance data by race/ethnicity, in accordance with the Court Order. These measures ensure that the program remains accessible, equitable, and reflective of its intended purpose.

2024-2025 School Year Applications 

As of July 15, 2024, the Magnet Academies office received a total of 120 applications broken down as follows:

• St. Martin Early STEAM Academy (ELC): 24 Tier 1 applications, one (1) Tier 2 application, and 22 Tier 3 applications.
• Three (3) Tier 3 applications were waitlisted due to Tier 3 1:1 ratio requirement agreed upon by the Parties (one Black student for one Non-Black student)
• St. Martin STEAM Academy (SMP): 38 Tier 1 applications, three (3) Tier 2 applications, and 32 Tier 3 applications.
• Five (5) Tier 3 applications were waitlisted due to Tier 3 1:1 ratio requirement agreed upon by the Parties (one Black student for one Non-Black student)

Additionally, due to the attendance zone court order signed on July 23, 2024 and the provision to allow impacted students to submit transfer applications for consideration, as of July 31, 2024 the following additionally Magnet Academies applications were received and processed as approved or waitlisted:

• St. Martin Early STEAM Academy (ELC): One (1) Tier 1 application, one (1) Tier 3 application
• One (1) Tier 3 application was waitlisted due to Tier 3 1:1 ratio requirement agreed upon by the Parties (one Black student for one Non-Black student)
• St. Martin STEAM Academy (SMP): Five (5) Tier 1 applications, four (4) Tier 3 applications. 
• Three (3) Tier 3 applications were waitlisted due to Tier 3 1:1 ratio requirement agreed upon by the Parties (one Black student for one Non-Black student)

REQUESTS FOR ALL MAGNET PROGRAM RELATED DOCUMENTS AND AUDITS CAN BE SENT TO THE DISTRICT'S DESEGREGATION COMPLIANCE OFFICER, CORKY MATTHEWS, VIA EMAIL AT CORKY_MATTHEWS@SAINTMARTINSCHOOL.ORG.

 

1. Students who qualify for a Majority-to-Minority (M-to-M) transfer in accordance with District M-to-M policy. 
   1. Siblings of enrolled M-to-M magnet school students returning the following school year and M-to-M families applying together in the same application season will receive priority under the Tier 1 rule.
2. Children of employees at St. Martin Early STEAM Academy and St. Martin STEAM Academy.
3. Students who reside outside of the St. Martinville zone and who do not qualify for Tier 1 or Tier 2. The District will admit one Black student within this tier for each White student admitted within this tier, using a nondiscriminatory and randomized lottery process for each category of Black and White students. For each Black and White student admitted for this tier, the District may admit a non-Black, non-white student.

 

Note: Tier 3 will only be activated for St. Martin Early STEAM Academy and/or St. Martin STEAM Academy once the District has reached a projected +/- 10% desegregation goal for Tier 3, for the school(s), based on June 1 demographics for each school and inclusion of confirmed Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications/enrollment for the Magnet Academies Program. Additionally, admission under Tier 3 will be denied if it is adverse to desegregation goals at either the sending or receiving schools. Admission is adverse to desegregation goals if acceptance would result in Black student enrollment at either the sending or receiving school exceeding +/-10% of the District-wide actual enrollment of students for that particular grade band.

The desegregative efforts of the two STEAM magnet schools for the 2024-2025 school year reflect a commitment to fostering a well-balanced student population. The pie charts illustrate the racial composition of each school, highlighting the impact of the desegregation plan.

At St. Martin Early STEAM Academy (Pre-K through 1st grade) the October 1, 2024 enrollment data is:  Black students comprise 63% of the total enrollment, while White students make up 33%, resulting in a desegregation percentage of +/- 14.5%. This data demonstrates progress toward greater inclusivity while maintaining equitable access to high-quality STEAM education.

Similarly, at St. Martin STEAM Academy (2nd through 5th grade) the October 1, 2024 enrollment data is: Black students represent 58% of the total population, and White students account for 40%, with a desegregation percentage of +/- 9.3%. These figures indicate that efforts to create a more representative learning environment are yielding measurable results.

Both schools’ enrollment data reflect intentional recruitment and outreach efforts to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to engage in STEAM-focused educational experiences. These desegregation percentages demonstrate a step forward in aligning student demographics more closely with the district’s goals while supporting a welcoming and well-rounded school community.

 

Magnet Implementation Plan Hearing and Court Submission Dates:

May 13, 2025: Final Magnet Plan Approval Filed

April 29, 2025: Magnet Plan Hearing

January 4, 2024: Submitted the Revised Magnet Implementation Plan

January 18-23, 2024: Public hearing on the Revised Magnet Implementation Plan submitted on January 4, 2024

January 25, 2024: Oral Decision from the Court

February 26, 2024: Status Conference Hearing 

*Hearing on the final Magnet Implementation Plan to be determined by Court.

April 15, 2024: Revised Magnet Implementation Plan submitted to the Court.

May 24, 2024: Oral Decision from the Court on Revised Magnet Implementation Plan submitted. The Court authorized the opening of the two magnet schools for the Fall 2024. 

July 15, 2024: Revised Magnet Implementation Plan submitted for consideration.

October 7, 2024: Additional revisions made to the Revised Magnet Implementation Plan and status update provided to the Court.

March 10, 2025: Submission of final plan for Court approval.