LAPLACE – Students living in St. John the Baptist Parish who are interested in attending John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet can apply for admission to the school for the 2012-13 school year between now and March 9 at noon.

Applications will not be accepted after the March 9, noon deadline.

Ory Magnet is the public school district’s top-performing K-8 school and is among the state’s elite schools that received an “A” score from the Louisiana Department of Education based on high student performance scores, continued academic growth and outstanding school attendance and low drop-out records. Ory Magnet is the only “A” school in the River Parishes area.

Ory Magnet Principal Teri Noel said students and parents interested in applying to the school can tour the campus and visit with faculty members on Jan. 26 and Feb. 16. Tours begin at 9:30 a.m. both days.

Noel said students will be selected by a lottery process on March 28 at 5 p.m. in an open forum at the school auditorium. All applications will be drawn and either accepted for admission or placed on a waiting list.

Noel said there are no academic requirements to enter the lottery or for acceptance into the school. However, all students must sign an agreement to adhere to the school’s student code of conduct, which mandates participation in classroom activities, completion of homework assignments and respect for campus rules and regulations. Also, students applying for admission to fifth grade will be required to pass the fourth grade LEAP test in the spring or summer test administration.

Siblings of currently attending students will be given first preference. The selection process also will include equal selections from majority race and minority race groups to maintain as close to a 50-50 racial composition among students as possible.

Noel said all applications must be accompanied by the following information:

• Birth certificate

• Shot record

• Social Security Card

• First and second Nine Weeks Report Cards

• Two proofs of residence

Noel suggests the applications be hand-delivered to the school office between 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Official notification of selection or rejection will be mailed to all applicants by April 9. All students selected to attend Ory Magnet for the 2012-13 school year will be required to attend an orientation session on May 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the school.

For more information about Ory Magnet’s application process, or for a copy of the application form, visit www.stjohn.k12.la.us.