Find Out More About Wiley Magnet Middle School and Other Magnet Schools at Annual Magnet Fair

Wiley Principal Sean Gaillard

On Saturday Jan. 10, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will hold its annual Magnet Fair. In the Friday Jan. 9 issue of the Winston-Salem Journal, reporter Arika Herron writes about Wiley Magnet Middle School, one of the magnet schools that will be represented at the fair.

Photographer Andrew Dye took the photos. Here is an excerpt from Herron's story.

This time last year, Wiley Magnet Middle School didn’t exist.

On the eve of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ annual magnet school fair, it’s poised to become one of the district’s most popular magnet programs.

Wiley Middle School – one of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools oldest and most historic schools – was struggling. The school had low test scores, high poverty and a plenty of open seats and school officials knew something needed to change.

“For years, we were not a consideration,” said Sean Gaillard, Wiley’s principal. “In a school system of choice, we were the non-choice.”

For the most part, middle-school assignment in the district works like this: students are placed in a “residential zone” that includes three middle schools from which they may choose. Students are guaranteed placement in one of those three schools, and often are granted their first or second choice. Wiley is part of the Midwest Zone with Jefferson Middle School and Paisley IB Magnet School.

Gaillard said that when given those three choices, Wiley was often the last choice.

That is starting to change, though. Wiley began piloting a new theme for the school’s sixth-graders two years ago. It uses a curriculum, known as STEAM, which integrates science, technology, engineering, art and math across subjects.

In November 2013, Wiley appealed to the district’s Board of Education to become its 19th magnet school.

The board granted the request, allowing Wiley to take its STEAM theme school-wide.

What the magnet also allowed Wiley to do – other than change its name – was to open enrollment to students across the county. Wiley accepts students from outside of its competitive residential zone.

“I thought, we’d get maybe 10 kids,” Gaillard said.

Wiley accepted 80 magnet students. Dozens more were put on a waiting list.

The effect was two-fold. Not only did Wiley attract those out-of-zone students, its new theme also helped it attract more students from inside its zone.

For the complete story, go to Winston-Salem Journal