Can a special education student go to magnet school?

Question

In middle school I thought about going to a magnet high school but when I applied for it I was rejected and I heard that magnet school is harder than a regular high school but now I'm a senior and shouldn't be worrying about this stuff but sometimes I'll put myself down about it. So tell me can a special ed student go to magnet school?

Answer 1

It depends upon the policies of the individual district.  However, I suspect that it would be illegal in a public school system to prohibit a special ed student from a magnet school on the basis of the disability. The exception might be if the magnet school requires a certain talent or aptitude, or if the student has behavior issues which would make the placement unsafe.   When we first started a local charter school, they would not accept special ed kids because they had no services available.   It did not matter what the disability was, even speech articulation  problems would be a disqualification.  However, after a threat of a lawsuit, that policy was changed.   Students do need to have a minimum level of achievement and be behaviorally appropriate to attend that school, but there are several special ed kids at that school now.