School District Five to hold two Magnet Fairs to showcase offerings

For Immediate Release – November 5, 2025

School District Five to hold two Magnet Fairs to showcase offerings

IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five will hold the first of two district Magnet Fairs on Thursday, November 20, 2025 giving families in the district an opportunity to explore offerings at several of its schools. For the second year, the two Magnet Fairs will be separated by grade levels.

The first in-person event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Irmo High School International School for the Arts. The event will feature the magnet schools and programs available to students in grades 6-12, ranging from STEM, career pathways, academically gifted, innovation and the arts. Families will have the opportunity to speak with school administrators, teachers and students about their district magnet school and magnet programs before completing the application. Also, representatives from the district's Flexible Innovative Virtual Education program or FIVE will be available. 

Crossroads Middle School Academy for Innovative Learning is a new middle school offering debuting in the 2026-2027 school year serving students in grades 6-8. This new magnet program embraces innovation and design thinking, focusing on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity through innovative learning experiences. As an AVID school, Crossroads equips all students with the skills, strategies, and confidence they need to succeed in rigorous courses, graduate from high school, and pursue higher education or career pathways. By blending academics with real-world applications and opportunities, Crossroads Middle prepares students for college and career readiness.

A second Magnet Fair will be held January 15, 2026 at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It will feature all of the Elementary magnet schools and programs.

"School District Five has consistently prioritized enhancing academic programs through magnet and choice offerings," said School District Five Magnet Director Sara Wheeler. "Providing our families with exceptional options is crucial for student success in both education and future careers. The magnet fairs are integral to informing district families about the opportunities we offer." 

During the events, participants will be able to learn about each of our magnet schools and programs, and talk with representatives from each school. 

The district’s magnet programs include: Crossroads Middle School Academy of Innovative Learning, Dutch Fork Elementary School Academy of Environmental Sciences,  Harbison West Elementary School Gifted and Talent Development Magnet, Escolares Academy at Harbison West Elementary School, H. E. Corley Elementary School Montessori Magnet and Leadership Magnet, Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet, Nursery Road Elementary School Arts Magnet, Seven Oaks Elementary School Global Magnet , Irmo Middle International Academic Magnet and I AM Escolares Magnet Program, Dutch Fork High School STEM Magnet Program, Irmo High School International School for the Arts, International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career-related Programmes, and the This Is Escolares Academic Magnet Program at Irmo High School, and Spring Hill High School Career Pathways Magnet.

The application window for the 2026-2027 school year opens on November 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and closes on January 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.