In the past, middle school students from Cary, Apex and other western parts of the county could attend Daniels Middle School for an International Baccalaureate theme. But school leaders abandoned the program at Daniels, which means parents who want their kids in the program will have to send them to East Garner Magnet Middle School.

"We're really recruiting from the western part of the county," said Mary E. Tanski, a magnet grant coordinator for Wake schools.

Tanski was at East Garner Middle on Feb. 10, when some fifth-graders from Farmington Woods Elementary in Cary visited.

Farmington Woods also offers a International Baccalaureate program.

Those students got a taste of school life in Garner.

Tanski said convincing western Wake parents to send their kids to Garner might be tough. "I think in terms of the perception, possibly," she said. The schools have different demographics. About half the students at East Garner Middle receive free or reduced-price lunch. At Farmington Woods, about 35 percent receive free or reduced-price lunch.

Wake has used magnet programs to balance demographics in schools for years.

School leaders hope a new magnet program at Smith Elementary in Garner will reduce the percentage of low-income students there. Garner Magnet High School also offers the International Baccalaureate theme.

Cathy Williams, principal at East Garner Magnet Middle, said she thinks parents perceive schools based on individual classrooms, not overall numbers.

"I would hope they're judging schools by the feel," Williams said. "When they walk into the school, how does it feel?"

At East Garner Middle, teachers try to maintain a feel that fosters what education leaders like to call "global citizens." Teachers make a point to explain to students why they are learning things.

For example, students learn how math and science interact, instead of just learning about the subjects separately, said Brandi Bullock, the IB program coordinator at the school.

Frances Venezia, principal at Farmington Woods, said she hopes the fifth-graders at her school will enter East Garner Middle in the fall.

"It's a great continuum for them," she said.

The magnet application deadline is Feb. 28. To see if your child qualifies to apply to a certain magnet school, or to apply, go to wcpss.net.