This story has a lot of facts and figures (such as test scores) that help dispel myths about urban magnet schools.

While it was likely outside of the scope of this article, I believe showing where these schools stack up compared to private and charter schools in the state as well as a nationwide comparison would have provided more context. As it is, we don't know if these schools are succeeding simply because parents with talented kids are seeking out the districts with good reputations, or if the schools have grown academically due to changes made by the administration.

This article reviews last year's performance of New Jersey schools but focuses on the excellent performance in county magnet schools that are organized around specific academic disciplines. The article implies that the county schools have a funding advantage as well as a draw on top students but doesn't explain how it is so.