PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the range of benchmark applications associated with US magnet schools in urban areas.Design/methodology/approachThe collection and critical analysis of secondary data from relevant publications are used to evaluate the results of America's magnet schools. Analysis of organizational and leadership theory has been utilized in order to benchmark future successful efforts.FindingsThe paper finds the following key issues: magnet schools have numerous mission goals that prevent them for having a clear strategy, magnet school structures should be customized for the specific communities and promote parental involvement, and magnet schools instruct students who are heavily influenced by pop culture values and challenge traditional values in the school culture.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper examines benchmarking applications that are exclusively relevant in US urban schools.Practical implicationsThere are several implications for researchers and practitioners related to improving the academic success of low‐performing schools in urban areas in America.Originality/valueThis paper is significant because it presents a theoretical framework for interpreting the impacts of magnet schools in urban schools.