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Magnet Tops All: Combs Named Nation's Best Magnet; Farmington Woods, Ligon Honored

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Apr. 26--Combs Elementary School is a West Raleigh magnet that stresses leadership, based on teaching students Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

On Tuesday, Combs led the nation, as it was named the top magnet school. Combs got the Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award from Magnet Schools of America, a trade organization. With Combs winning the overall award, two other area magnet schools took honors. Farmington Woods in Cary was named the top elementary school, and Ligon Middle School in Raleigh was the top secondary school.

"It's a reaffirmation of how successful magnet schools are in Wake," Combs' principal, Muriel Summers, said.

Combs is one of Wake County's most diverse and high-performing schools. Half of the 749 students are white, 20 percent are black, 15 percent are Hispanic, and 9 percent are Asian. Nearly 36 percent of the students receive federally subsidized lunches. The school offers programs for English As a Second Language students and children who are hearing impaired.

Last year, 95 percent of Combs' students passed state tests.

"It was Muriel's vision," said Laura Brooks, the school's PTA president. "We weren't always high performing."

The Simpson Award wasn't a first for Wake. Bugg Elementary School won in 2004, Washington Elementary School in 2003 and Enloe High School in 2000.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The News & Observer

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