How Hollywood Families Use LAUSD Magnet Programs: Options, Deadlines, and Nearby Examples

Standing at Sunset and Highland, a lot of parents ask the same question: can my child attend that performing arts program at the high school even if we live a few miles away? In Los Angeles Unified, the answer is often yes. Magnet programs are citywide, tuition-free, and open to any student who lives within LAUSD boundaries and applies through the District’s Unified Enrollment “Choices” system.

What “magnet” means in LA Unified and who can apply

In LAUSD, a magnet is a themed program you apply to through the Choices application. Your child can apply regardless of the home school zone, as long as you reside in LAUSD at the time of application and attendance. There is no tuition for magnet programs, and there’s no application fee.

Selections are made by a computerized lottery that uses a priority point system. LAUSD publishes the point values each year: 4 points for PHBAO (if your resident school is designated Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian and Other Non-Anglo), 4 points for Overcrowded resident schools, and 3 points for Sibling if a brother or sister is currently enrolled in the same magnet you’re applying to. Wait list points accrue at 4 points per year you apply on time and are not selected, up to a maximum of 12. The District’s guide caps total magnet priority at 23 points.

Gifted, Highly Gifted, and High Ability magnets require the student to meet published gifted identification or verification criteria. For non-LAUSD students, LAUSD provides a verification form; schools reference those forms during placement. If you’re applying to a gifted magnet, plan ahead so your current school can complete the verification by the District’s deadline during the on-time cycle.

If you need help understanding which programs fit your child’s grade and theme, the District’s Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300 is staffed Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (except holidays). They will walk you through creating a parent account, linking a student, and picking programs in the right grade span.

Deadlines and paperwork that catch families by surprise

For the upcoming 2027–2028 school year, LAUSD’s on-time Choices application closes on November 6, 2026. Results are typically released in March, and families are given a deadline (stated in your selection letter) to accept or decline the offer with the school. Late applications are available after the on-time cycle; late applications are considered after schools work through their wait lists, and late applicants do not earn priority points.

Here’s how the process generally flows: apply on time by early November, watch for March notifications in your parent portal, and then respond directly to the school by the date listed in your letter. You can only accept one Choices placement. If you accept a magnet, enroll with that school promptly; students not enrolled and attending by the start-of-year deadline listed in the letter risk losing the placement.

If you have trouble with the online account or need an enrollment packet in paper form, the Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300 can connect you to the right office. If you have magnet-specific questions (transportation eligibility, points, or policies), the District’s Student Integration Services office at (213) 241-4177 can assist.

Getting to campus: busing and the commute reality in Hollywood

LAUSD provides school bus service for eligible magnet students. The Transportation Services Branch states that elementary students living more than 1 mile from their school and secondary students living more than 2 miles from their school are eligible to request transportation. District-paid transportation depends on the specific program, established routes, and available space, and rides follow a one-way guideline of no more than about 90 minutes when routes are set. For route or stop questions, families may call 1‑800‑LA‑BUSES (1‑800‑522‑8737), which connects to routing and dispatch.

Hollywood families often apply citywide, but commute time matters. Check the magnet’s typical bus stop locations and drive time from your home during your child’s actual bell schedule. If you’re considering a cross-town option, ask the school’s magnet coordinator how many students travel from the central Hollywood area and whether a stop already exists along your corridor; adding a brand-new stop midyear is unlikely.

Most schools also run after-school programs. For example, Bancroft Middle School notes a free after-school program that includes tutoring, arts, and athletics. If your child will ride a bus, confirm the last outbound bus time and whether late buses are available on performance or rehearsal nights.

Real magnets Hollywood families choose, from K to 12

Elementary options near Hollywood

Melrose Avenue Math/Science/Technology Magnet (K–5) sits at 731 N Detroit St., Los Angeles, 90046. The program integrates hands-on STEM challenges, and the school has been recognized by Magnet Schools of America with a School of Distinction honor. Families in Hollywood, Fairfax, and Hancock Park routinely apply here because the campus is a short trip from Sunset Boulevard and La Brea.

Gardner Street Elementary Arts Integration Magnet Center (K–5) operates at 7450 Hawthorn Ave., Los Angeles, 90046, in the Hollywood Community of Schools. It is an arts-integration magnet center, meaning the themed classes run within the larger resident school, and arts processes are woven into English, math, science, and social studies. The magnet center accepts applications through the Choices program; the school also posts tour dates for prospective families.

Wonderland Avenue Elementary Gifted Magnet (grades 3–5) serves gifted-identified students in Laurel Canyon at 8510 Wonderland Ave., Los Angeles, 90046. Because it is a Gifted Magnet Center, admission requires meeting LAUSD gifted identification criteria or approved verification for non-district students. Many Hollywood Hills families use Wonderland’s magnet as the upper-elementary bridge into middle school gifted pathways.

Rosewood STEM Magnet: Urban Planning and Urban Design (TK–5) is just south of West Hollywood at 503 N Croft Ave., Los Angeles, 90048. The magnet weaves engineering and urban design concepts into grade-level standards, which appeals to families looking for project-based learning within close reach of Beverly Grove and the Fairfax District.

Middle school magnets serving Hollywood

Bancroft Middle School Performing Arts Magnet (6–8), at 929 N Las Palmas Ave., Los Angeles, 90038, is a longstanding option in the heart of Hollywood. Students can study theatre, dance, instrumental music, and media production while taking core academics on the same campus. Bancroft’s performance calendar typically includes a winter show and a spring musical, so ask about rehearsal schedules if your child will need bus transportation home.

Bancroft Middle School Gifted/High Ability STEAM Magnet (6–8) runs on the same campus, also at 929 N Las Palmas Ave., Los Angeles, 90038. The program emphasizes engineering design and lab-based science and references the Project Lead The Way sequence across the three grade levels. Entry requires meeting the District’s gifted or high-ability criteria or verification. Many students use this magnet as a feeder to STEM-themed high school magnets.

High school magnets in the Hollywood area

Hollywood High School Performing Arts Magnet (9–12) is housed at 1521 N Highland Ave., Los Angeles, 90028. The program offers theatre, dance, vocal, and instrumental pathways and has earned Magnet Schools of America recognition in recent award cycles. The campus sits at Highland and Sunset, which is helpful for families looking at north–south bus routes or Metro access.

Hollywood High School New Media Academy Magnet (9–12), also at 1521 N Highland Ave., Los Angeles, 90028, focuses on digital media production and post-production skills aligned to the Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector. The magnet maintains an outreach page for tours and portfolio expectations; students complete A–G coursework while building a media reel or portfolio by graduation.

Zones of Choice and other LAUSD routes around Hollywood

In some parts of the District, LAUSD groups several schools into a local Zone of Choice. Families within a Zone rank among the listed schools on the Choices application and are assigned by a lottery within that Zone. Not every neighborhood is in a Zone, and the Zone lists change by grade span. If you’re not sure whether your address falls into a Zone, you can call the Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300 and ask them to look up your residential options.

Separately, Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) are resident programs at selected campuses designed for high-achieving students; some SAS-designated schools appear in Zones or on the Choices application for non-resident applicants. SAS is not the same as a magnet, and it does not use the magnet point system, but it can be a practical route if you want advanced coursework without a long commute.

Quick things to know before you apply

• The District’s on-time Choices application for 2027–2028 closes on November 6, 2026. Put that on your family calendar now.
• Need help with your online account or paper application? Call the LAUSD Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Bus eligibility starts at over 1 mile (elementary) and over 2 miles (secondary), and you can reach Transportation routing at 1‑800‑LA‑BUSES for stop and schedule questions.
• The magnet point system includes PHBAO 4, Overcrowded 4, Sibling 3, plus Wait List 4 per year up to 12. Total priority is capped at 23 points.
• Gifted and High Ability magnets require proof of gifted identification or District-approved verification when the school contacts you to confirm a seat.
• Late applications are considered only after wait lists are exhausted and do not earn points; consider submitting a late application to multiple schools sequentially if commute or theme flexibility matters.

Reader Q&A

Can we apply to a Hollywood-area magnet if we are zoned to a different neighborhood school?

Yes. LAUSD magnets are citywide and tuition-free for residents. You apply through the Choices portal, and for 2027–2028 the on-time window closes on November 6, 2026. If selected, you accept with the school by the deadline listed in your notification.

How does the bus work if my child gets into a magnet across town?

LAUSD’s Transportation Services Branch allows elementary students living over 1 mile and secondary students over 2 miles from school to request a bus on established routes. Call 1‑800‑LA‑BUSES to check stops and timing along your corridor before you accept a seat.

We missed the on-time deadline. Should we still apply?

Yes, you can submit a late application after the on-time lottery results go out. Late applications are processed after wait lists and don’t earn points, but seats can open through spring and summer. You can only accept one Choices placement, on-time or late.

What’s the difference between a magnet and an SAS program?

Magnets are themed programs with a District lottery and the magnet point system. Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) are resident programs serving advanced learners on specific campuses; some also accept non-resident students through Choices. SAS does not use magnet points.

To narrow your list, start with commute reality and grade span. Then, call the magnet coordinators at the programs above to ask about typical bus stops from Hollywood and whether rehearsal schedules or lab blocks mesh with your family’s afternoons.

Published: September 8, 2026