Magnet Program

The Westerville City School District Magnet Program is an elective option offering students in grades 1-5 with a voluntary opportunity to explore education through a focused lens:

• STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics)
• World Cultures & Fine Arts Using Inquiry-Based Learning

These programs are located in two of our elementary schools, Hanby and Emerson. Both our magnet schools emphasize a cooperative learning environment in a small school setting. Each offers two classrooms per grade level in grades 1-5, and they utilize an inquiry-based approach to learning through their focused lens.

Similar to our other elementary schools, children in our magnet schools will learn critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication, social emotional wellness, and adaptability skills, all of which support our district’s Portrait of a Graduate. Both magnet schools also adhere to the same curriculum for all major subject areas as our other elementary schools.

Hanby Magnet School hosts the STEAM focus.  
For more information specific to this school, please contact Principal Caley Baker at (614)797-7100 or through email.

Emerson Magnet School hosts the World Cultures and Fine Arts focus using Inquiry-Based Learning.
For more information specific to this school, please contact Principal Dr. Victoria Hazlett at (614)797-7080 or through email.

Instructional hours for both magnet schools are M-F 8:00 AM - 2:25 PM  (note: these times differ from our traditional elementary schools which are from 9:15AM- 3:40PM)

Transportation is provided to/from magnet schools unless the student lives within walking distance of the attending school.

Our Magnet Schools are open to any WCS student, but seats are limited!

Questions specific to our lottery process need to be directed to the district’s enrollment office. 

Anne Smith, (614)797-7700
WCSMagnetLottery@westerville.k12.oh.us 

Magnet Lottery Timeline: 2026-2027 school year

• Monday, February 2, 2026
  • Enrollment (Registration Gateway portal) opens for 'new' WCS students applying to attend a Magnet School for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Magnet Lottery Form OPENS on website 12:00 AM.
     
• Thursday, February 19, 2026 
  • Magnet Open House @ 
    • Hanby: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
    • Emerson: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
       
• Sunday, March 15, 2026
  • Magnet Lottery Form CLOSES on website at 4:00 PM.
  • Students not already enrolled in WCS must be pre-enrolled for the 26-27 school year before the lottery deadline. Follow this link to our enrollment process before submitting a Magnet Lottery Form. 
     
• Lottery will be held within 7 Business Days of Lottery Deadline 
  • March 16th is the deadline to withdraw Magnet requests. See * note below.
     
• Week of April 6, 2026
  • Notification letters will be mailed to guardians,

During the lottery process, applications are pulled to determine a student's draw number until all applications are drawn. The draw number is used to fill open seats at the magnet school. Once the open seats are filled, remaining draw numbers are placed on a wait list. If you missed the lottery drawing, and would like to be placed on the waitlist, please contact us at WCSMagnetLottery@westerville.k12.oh.us. Please note that waitlist will close for the 26-27 school year on December 31, 2026.

*Note: Students whose draw number secures a seat at the magnet school will be automatically transferred from their assigned homeschool to that magnet school for the 2026-2027 school year. If a parent/guardian no longer wishes for their child to attend the magnet school after the lottery drawing is held, they must contact the magnet school to request return to the homeschool. Students transferred back to their designated homeschool after a lottery process, will be subject to "overflow-out procedures" if their homeschool is in this position.