FCPS Gets Historic Opportunity to Expand Magnet Options

An elementary arts school and an elementary-to-middle-school leadership and civic engagement program will be open next fall to Fayette County Public Schools students, funded by a $15 million federal grant.

“This is a game-changer,” said Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. “One of the strengths of our district is the variety of special and magnet program options we provide to families, and we are thrilled to be able to expand those offerings.”

FCPS was one of only 12 school districts nationally to receive the prestigious and highly competitive Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The money will establish the following program themes at three schools:  

• Breckinridge Elementary: Innovative Leadership and Civic Engagement Magnet
• Crawford Middle School: Leadership Academy for Literacies and Civic Engagement 
• Harrison Elementary: Visual, Performing, and Digital Arts Magnet

Planning will begin immediately, and the schools will be open to new enrollment in fall 2025. 

By implementing the Visual, Performing, and Digital Arts Magnet at Harrison, FCPS will establish an arts-specific pathway between Harrison and the existing Visual and Performing Arts program at Lexington Traditional Magnet School (LTMS). 

“This underscores our commitment to expanding arts programming,” Liggins said. “We recognize that students flourish with a well-rounded education that promotes creativity, nurtures imagination, and creates a dynamic space to discover, develop, and apply their unique capabilities.”

The new program will build on the momentum that began last year when LTMS received $840,000 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fostering Diverse Schools Development Grant to transform into a Visual and Performing Arts magnet program.

“Recent accountability results reflect significant academic growth and achievement at LTMS,” Liggins said. “We expect to see the same transformation as we engage each school community in reimagining itself.”

Collectively, Breckinridge Elementary and Crawford Middle will create a civic engagement and leadership pathway that spans preschool through eighth grade. Programming will be built with the help of strong partnerships with community and state organizations to make real-world connections for students. The new offering aligns with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, which promises families that the experiences their children receive in FCPS will equip them to be active and informed citizens who are prepared for success in various fields of study and professions.   

The $15 million five-year grant is the largest discretionary grant ever awarded to FCPS.

“During the application process, representatives from the U.S. Department of Education expressed confidence in the district’s vision and capacity to create high-quality magnet programs that attract a diverse student body and provide equitable access to engaging and rigorous learning opportunities,” Liggins said. “This grant securely positions Fayette County Public Schools as a leader in innovative education and a model for other school districts across the country.”