Magnet Schools of America

Magnet Schools of America has established the Magnet Schools of Merit Award to recognize the top magnet schools in the United States. The Magnet Schools of Merit Award recognizes magnet schools that show a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation/diversity efforts, specialized teaching staffs, and parent and community involvement. Two categories of awards have been established by MSA: The top category given to a group of select magnet schools is the Magnet School of Excellence Award and the second category of awards is the Magnet School of Distinction Award. Schools recognized must be members of Magnet Schools of America and must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.  Cash awards are provided to the top Magnet Schools of Excellence.

The Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Awards, considered the TOP award for magnet schools int he nation, is given to only one school in the Magnet School of Excellence category.  This award recognized Dr. Ronald P. Simpson, who was one of the founding members of the Magnet Schools of America (MSA) Board of Directors.  Dr. Dimpson, from Kansas City, Missouri Public School System, served as the second president of the organization, 1994-1995.  Dr. Simpson made a positive impact on magnet schools, and this award was estabished to commemorate his outstanding contributions to Magnet Schools of America.  The Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award includes a $5,000 cash award, sponsored by Magnet Schools of America in honor of Phale D. Hale (deceased), of Phale D. Hale Education Consulting, Inc., Washington, D.C. and past-president of MSA, 1995-1996.

In 2006, Magnet Schools of America established two new awards for elementary and secondary Magnet Schools of Excellence.  The first, sponsored by Magnet Schools of America for Dr. Donald . Waldrip, founder and MSA's first Executive Director, is for an elementary Magnet Schools of Excellence, with a a cash award of $2,500.  The second awars, sponsored by American Education Solutions, Croton on Hudson, New York, is for a secondary Magnet Schools of Excellence, with a cash award of $2,500.

Also established in 2006, is the Hogan Lovells Award to recognize New and Emerging Magnet Schools of Merit from the Schools of Excellence category.  Recognized nationally for its leadership and commitment to magnet schools acrss the antiona, the Washington, D.C. Law Firm of Hogan Lovells is the sponsr of a $1,000 cash award.

New for 2010, DKH Consulting Services Inc., Largo, Florida is sponsoring a cash award of $2,500 for an Elementary Magnet Schools of Excellence.

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• 2010 Dr. Ronald P. Simpson School of Merit Award 
• 2010 Dr. Donald Waldrip Award
• 2010 DKH Consulting Elementary School of Merit Award
• 2010 American Education Solutions Secondary School of Merit Award
• 2010 Hogan Lovells New & Emerging Magnet Award
• 2010 School of Excellence Awards
• 2010 School of Distinction Awards

• 2006 Dr. Ronald P. Simpson School of Merit Award 
• 2006 Dr. Donald Waldrip Award
• 2006 Eugene Uram Montessori Award
• 2006 Secondary School of Merit Award
• 2010 Hogan & Hartson New & Emerging Magnet Award
• 2006 School of Excellence Awards
• 2006 School of Distinction Awards