DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur Public Schools' three magnet programs will open applications on December 1 for students interested in enrolling for the 2026-27 school year.
The magnet application process will be done completely online using an online application and lottery system called SchoolMint.
Applications will be open from Friday, December 1 through Friday, January 31, 2026. The district's central office will then conduct an electronic lottery in March 2026 to fill available seats.
As part of the application process, parents and guardians are required to attend a mandatory parent meeting for each magnet school to which they are applying for their student.
The school district said the meetings provide important information about each school's magnet program so families can better understand the academic and behavioral expectations. Families will also have the opportunity to speak directly with each magnet school principal.
Parents are asked to pre-register on the DPS magnet website or sign-in at the informational meetings.
Dates and times for the meetings are listed below:
- November 19, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at Decatur Library in the Madden Auditorium. All three magnet school principals available.
- December 2, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at Johns Hill Magnet School
- December 4, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at Ellsworth Dansby Magnet SchoolÂ
- December 10, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at Decatur Library in the Madden Auditorium. All three magnet school principals available.
- December 18, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at Montessori Academy for Peace
More information can be found on the DPS 61 website.
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