Harper Lile, 8th Grade, Editor-In-Chief
There are many eighth graders at Noe Middle School with the hope of attending DuPont Manual High School.
Manual is widely considered the best public high school in Kentucky. It offers different magnet programs and opportunities for students across Louisville.
Many eighth graders are anxious about the upcoming application process for Manual.
High School University (HSU) is a program that offers lots of diverse advanced placement classes, college preparatory classes, with close connections to the University of Louisville and opportunities for college credit.
Journalism and Communications (J&C) is a magnet program that offers classes that focus on topics such as journalism, broadcasting, graphic design, politics, photography, business communications, law, advertising, public relations and public speaking.
Math, Science and Technology (MST) is a challenging program that is created to prepare students for any college in the country. MST offers different types of school work and experiences that give students critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The Visual Arts (VA) magnet offers advanced art classes and an opportunity for students to create an art portfolio over the 4 years of their high school experience. Students are prepared for a career in art and have opportunities with galleries, the Speed Art Museum and U of L. VA also offers critical skills such as creative problem solving, high order thinking and analytical skills that will help them in a career not related to visual arts.
The Youth Performing Arts (YPAS) school is the best performing arts school in Kentucky.
Students have the distinct opportunity to train, learn, and nurture their talent to become tomorrow’s artists (according to the Manual website).
Application Process
In terms of applications, for all magnet programs you will need two different recommendations, and the different magnets require different people to submit recommendations. For all magnets except YPAS, you need a survey listing your five most important activities.
As a JCPS student, they also have access to all your academic and behavioral information.
Students have the opportunity to submit an attendance statement if you have more than 15 absences over your three years of middle school. You state why you have these absences and how you will improve your attendance while at Manual.
For HSU, you submit a personal essay explaining what school experiences led you to apply to HSU along with the other requirements that go with all magnets.
For J&C, you need a personal essay that explains what interests you in J&C and what drives you. Then, you need to pick three performance tasks from the Manual website to submit with your application, along with the other requirements that go with all magnets.
For MST, you need to answer three questions listed on the Manual website along with the other requirements that go with all magnets.
For VA, along with the other requirements that go with all magnets you need a writing portfolio quality essay.
For YPAS, along with the other requirements that go with all magnets, you need to submit a personal essay, performance resume, and complete an audition and an on-site writing prompt.
Himani Deo attended Noe and is a current MST junior at Manual, and plays on the state title winning tennis team.
When asked about how MST prepares you for college and the real world she explains, “MST definitely prepares you with the workload. I think time management is so important and MST really reinforces that.”
“So many people from Noe go to Manual, so I felt like I already knew a lot of people so it wasn’t as scary. I think that’s the main thing,” said Deo.
She said that she enjoys the community at MST and Manual, “I like having so many friends who are interested in the same things as me, and I can go to them for advice and talk about our classes.”
Deo recommends MST for people who are really interested in the career fields and subject areas that MST offers. She explains that if you’re passionate about medicine and technology, then you will really enjoy it.
“For incoming freshmen, I’d say, at Manual, we have red days and white days, and you have four classes on red days, and four classes on white days, and my biggest tip I got my freshman year from my teacher was to do red day work on red days, on red day nights, so don’t put it off till the white day,” said Deo.
Deo had tips for applying.
“Definitely don’t procrastinate on your application,” as well as, “Don’t be afraid to list your achievements…. This is your one shot and Manual, and it’s such a great school,” Deo said.
Deo also came into her sophomore year with almost zero knowledge on chemistry, and is now in AP chemistry and finds it very interesting. She has learned so many new things and now enjoys different subject areas that she just newly discovered.
Overall, Deo’s biggest take away from Manual and MST so far are the time management skills she has gained that will help you in college and in the real world.
