The suggestion of "legalized segregation" at Academic Magnet is ironic given the history of magnet schools in particular and the Academic Magnet in particular. Magnet schools were developed in the 60's as remedy to segregation and alternative to bussing. They intentionally drew students from across (segregated) district lines to diversify minority districts abandoned by white students. AM was formed as part of a settlement of a long running Civil Rights Action against the Charleston County School District over discriminatory districting. It originally existed as a school within a school in Burke HS, which had a virtually all black student body at the time in downtown Charleston. It eventually moved to the Naval Base, and moved to its present campus last year. For anyone who has seen the Navy Base campus, comparing AM to a private institution is somewhat laughable. For those who have played Home Games at the Magnet, they know full well there is no "home field" and the team has moved around the county like wild geese using a variety of fields. It is a fact that AM is not restricted to district lines and draws students from all over the county, but the entrance qualifications offset the geographic base and are academic in nature, not athletic.
