LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One day a year, all 172 Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) gather in one place.

The state's largest school district held its annual Showcase of Schools event at Norton Sports and Learning Center in the Russell neighborhood on Saturday. It marked the first time JCPS has held the event in the West End, which the district said resulted in a record turnout according to JCPS.

The event is designed to give families insights about schools, so they can make an informed decision about where to send their children next school year. The showcase featured career pathway opportunities  -- like aviation programs offered at the Academy@Shawnee and a new STEM focused magnet opening at Western.

Jamiyah Truitt, an eighth grader, has plenty of of options when it comes to where she'd like to go to high school next year. She's deciding between Manual, Central and Doss.

"I came here to look for schools to go to," Truitt said. 

Truitt's family lives in the JCPS "choice zone," which is primarily made up of west and southwest Louisville neighborhoods. Truitt can go to a school close to home, like Doss, or apply to a number of other schools, including magnet and traditional programs.

With those options, Truitt decided to attend the JCPS Showcase of Schools.

"Central, I didn't know they were going to have all these big opportunities," Truitt said.

It's the second year families leaving in the Choice Zone can go to school close to home or choose from a list of other schools, based off their address. With the change still being new for families, JCPS said many parents still have one common question that they're prepared to answer.

"One of the biggest questions is what schools are open to me?" said JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan. "So we've had folks here that can look up your address and send you over."

More than 1,000 people attended Showcase of Schools within the first hour. The event had almost 8,000 people attended it on Saturday.

"We are in the heart of the Choice Zone, which is huge for us and our families and we really want to meet people where they are," Callahan said. "This is also on a TARC line so that was also helpful, there's a lot of free parking."

If families missed the one-day opportunity, there is more information available online. For a list of JCPS magnet and traditional schools, click here.

To learn more about student assignment plans and boundary maps, click here. To learn more about school choices, click here. 

Schools will also host open houses through October and November.

"You are always welcomed to call the school you want to check out and let you meet administration," Callahan said.

The application period for all schools opens in November and closes on Dec. 22. But one timing issue: the district is still working on bus issues and hasn't announced if buses will continue for magnet school students next year.

Callahan previously told WDRB News that the Jefferson County Board of Education is hoping to make a decision on if magnet schools will provide students busing at the beginning of 2024. Typically students who apply to attend a magnet school find out if they were accepted in April. Students who have been accepted can then choose to enroll or decline at that time.

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