MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
More Rutherford County parents are interested in enrolling their child in one of the county's magnet schools.
On Tuesday, Nashville's News 2 spent time inside a classroom at Discovery School in Murfreesboro.
In one first grade classroom, students were busy working on their vocabulary with the help of iPads, while another classroom worked amongst themselves as the teacher spent one-on-one time with another student.
Dr. Linda Clark is the principal of the school. She told Nashville's News 2 the number of students applying for open spots increases each year.
"We'll be full, we'll fill every single spot every year," she said.
Dr. Clark added that is how it always is at Discovery, a kindergarten through sixth grade school that boasts a rigorous academic program.
According to Dr. Clark, 300 students applied for 60 available spots last year.
"I think people feel more confident about it than they did initially," Dr. Clark told Nashville's News 2, "We had strong interest in the first year, but I think it's had the test of time and people have seen students coming out that are prepared for middle school with strong academic backgrounds."
This is Discovery's seventh year in the district and each year, Dr. Clark said parents line up to find out how their child can be enrolled.
At the school, students are admitted based on two tests they take to get in.
The city's other magnet schools, Hobgood Elementary and Bradley Academy are open enrollment and do not require a test.
"When Discovery was opened, there was a community need for it," said Murfreesboro City Schools spokesperson, Lisa Trail.
Trail added, "It gives kids an opportunity to choose what's best for them and parents can make good choices for their child."
Discovery School is testing potential students now, but told Nashville's News 2 there may be some more spots that open up based on whether other students leave the school.
If parents are interested in signing up for the three Rutherford County magnet schools, the deadline for applicants is January 31.
Central Magnet is grades six through twelve, McFadden School of Excellence is kindergarten through fifth grades and Thurman Francis Arts Academy is kindergarten through eighth grades.
