High School University

High School University Magnet Application

The following items are required to apply to the HSU magnet:

Essay must be composed and written by the applicant. 

• What school experiences have led you to the decision to apply to the HSU magnet at duPont Manual High School?  (400 words max)

A completed Activities Survey

List your 6 most important activities. You will indicate leadership positions or member for each activity, breif impact statement, and your time commitment include: any work, volunteer, sport, club or outside organization participation.  You will enter your activities on the online duPont Manual Criteria Portal.

Recommendations (Recommendations are due January 5, 2027)

TWO recommendations are required

1. ONE recommendation from a middle school teacher who is familiar with the student's academic performance. Please collect your recommender's email. The recommender's will be submitted on your application.

2. ONE from a middle school teacher or a coach, sponsor, community member who is familiar with the student's involvement outside of the classroom. Please collect your recommender's email. The recommender's email address must be submitted on your application.

*Recommendations from family members will not be accepted and could adversely affect scoring. 

Attendance Statement (optional):

Attending class is critical for success at duPont Manual High School.  Please provide a brief rationale if you have a total of more than 15 absences over the past 3 years.  Please include relevant reasons for the absences and any efforts that will be taken to ensure improved attendance if admitted to duPont Manual High School.   

IF YOU ARE A JCPS STUDENT:
We will obtain your attendance, transcript (GPA), school administered test scores and grades from JCPS. You do not need to provide this information with your application. However, if you have taken the ACT or SAT and wish to include your score report, please do so.

IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED A JCPS SCHOOL FOR ANY PART OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, you must submit the following with your application:

• Attendance records for the past three years

• Any standardized test scores, 

  1. 1. 1. 1. including ACT or SAT if available

           2. Amplify

• Transcript grades for the past two years

• Most recent grade report for current year

Please note – Attendance is part of the application review. If your student has had a significant attendance issue in the last three years, please complete the optional attendance statement portion of the application.  

Helpful Tips:

• Make sure your sharing settings are set to "anyone with the link can view" 

• Make sure your links work 

• Students may use support, including AI tools, to organize ideas or check grammar during the application process.  However, AI must not write the application content, essays, responses, or recommendations. All submitted work must authentically reflect the student's own voice and experiences.

Approved by Magnet Team (SW,AM) 9/2026