New magnet school to focus on leadership, law

Academy to focus on leadership, law

Clark County's newest magnet high school is set to open in North Las Vegas in time for the 2004-05 school year.

Canyon Springs High School, at the corner of North Fifth Street and Alexander Road, will offer selected students the opportunity to study at its Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy.

Canyon Springs principal Roger Gonzales -- who left Roy Martin Middle School to take the job -- is excited about the school's magnet program.

"I was (at Roy Martin) when we started the International Preparatory Academy magnet program there," he said. "I had the opportunity to help develop that concept. When I learned of the opportunity to open a magnet program at a new high school, I wanted the challenge."

Canyon Springs will be the first new Clark County school to open as a magnet school, Gonzalez said. Most existing magnet programs are designed to attract students to older schools.

"This was a vision we had," he said. "We wanted to see a new school open with a magnet program, see if we can recruit from other areas of the valley."

The school's magnet program also will be the first in the county to focus exclusively on leadership and law. Advanced Technologies Academy, a magnet high school just five miles southwest of Canyon Springs, currently offers law-related education as one of its seven magnet program options.

"It's a small criminal justice-type program," said Gonzalez, "but not a full magnet. One-third of (Canyon Springs') student body will be designated for it."

Advanced Technologies principal Jane Oler said she's happy students will have another place to pursue law-related education.

"There's certainly a demand for it," she said. "No one school can handle all of it. Each program only has so many seats, and we have more applicants than seats. For some time we've thought another site was needed. Offering it at another site is invaluable."

Gonzalez said Canyon Springs will draw primarily from nearby middle schools, Mojave and Cheyenne high schools.

"We are currently recruiting students from around the valley," he said. "One-third of the school will be designated for the Academy. But a good portion of seats are reserved for students who already live in the zone. We will provide that opportunity to students who will be attending Canyon Springs regardless."

All area elementary, middle and high school magnet programs are housed inside Clark County School District public schools. Students from anywhere in the school district are welcome to apply for admission to any magnet program.

Grades, standardized testing results, teacher recommendations and, in some cases, on-site auditions or tests are used to determine student eligibility. When the number of eligible students is greater than the number of seats available in a program, a computer lottery system is used to select students.

Currently, the Clark County School District has high school magnet programs at various schools emphasizing studies in the performing or visual arts, aviation, medicine, technology, travel and tourism, cosmetology and foreign languages.

The Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy at Canyon Springs will be a four-year program designed to give students a college preparatory course of study with an emphasis in leadership, law and global studies.

"Students can choose whether they want to emphasize law or leadership and global studies," Gonzalez said. "We're hoping to prepare good citizens for the future, instill good civic responsibility and provide lots of service opportunities for students."

For more information about Canyon Springs High School, visit the school's Web site at www.ccsd.net/schools/canyonsprings.


<<--[back]