Research the magnet schools offered in your school district. Many school systems provide information about each school on the Internet or at regularly scheduled magnet fairs. Representatives from each school are available at such fairs to answer questions from prospective parents.
Visit each magnet school you are considering. Magnet schools can be located anywhere in your school district, so make sure you are comfortable with the location. Even when a particular magnet school sounds good on paper, you might not like what you see when you visit. Sometimes the buildings are older, and the schools might be located in neighborhoods that make you uncomfortable.
Assess your child's learning style, interests and special needs. While a particular magnet school might have a great reputation, it might not be the best fit for your child. Consider the way your child learns best and what interests him when evaluating the magnet school options. Also, if your child has any special needs, factor those in before selecting a school.
Consider your feelings about diversity. One goal of most magnet schools is to offer the program to children of all races and income levels. If you feel uncomfortable with your child attending a school in which his race or income level is not in the majority, then a magnet school might not be the best choice for you.
Ask about the public transportation options. While some public school systems provide public transportation for magnet school students, others do not. Also, the school systems that do provide public transportation for their magnet school students often require the children to change buses at a hub, which means the children spend much more time on the bus.