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Parents flocked to the ballroom at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux on Monday to learn about the governed choice programs offered in Cumberland County public schools.

Parents have until Feb. 16 to apply to one of the 56 choice schools - a school that offers a different schedule or curriculum than traditional schools. Students must be accepted into the school. Busing is not provided.

Superintendent Frank Till Jr. said he is a strong proponent of choice schools. He has worked in two school systems with magnet programs.

"I like the fact that we give the parents a chance to look at program and specialties," Till said. "As a system, you can be more responsive to the population and give them a chance to take some things they are interested in."

Biranda DeShields was on the lookout for a school that incorporated the arts into its curriculum for her kindergartner, Autumn. Autumn currently attends a private school.

"She really enjoys music and art and dancing," her mother said.

The pair stopped at the booth for Mary McArthur Elementary, a kindergarten through fifth-grade school that is arts focused.

"This school, in particular, I have talked to a few parents," DeShields said. "The overall curriculum, they enjoy it."

Booths that touted arts programs for younger children were heavily visited by parents.

Early in the evening, three or four parents had visited Warrenwood Elementary's booth, said teacher Sarah Hennessey. Hennessey, the Cumberland County Teacher of the Year, teaches third grade at the math and science school.

"For mom and dad to look out and say 'Are they too young to start in math and science?' Absolutely not," Hennessey said.

Between 20 percent and 30 percent of the school's 500-plus students choose to be there, Hennessey said. Just as in a language immersion program, students at Warrenwood are exposed to math and science concepts constantly - which eventually may give them an extra edge in the job market.

Kindergartners work on laptops and design spreadsheets, Hennessey said. Her class is learning some algebra concepts.

"Our kids know more about technology than a lot of adults do," she said.

Zoletta Taylor, an assistant principal at Jack Britt High School, was wowed by the displays. One featured a working robot. Taylor brought her two daughters, Zoia and Frankie Graham, to the event. The girls attend Stoney Point Elementary.

"They like science," Taylor said. "They like math. I am trying to find something to cater to them."

Brianna Wilcox, an eighth-grader, was drawn to programs at Howard Health and Cross Creek Early College. Her father leaned toward Cross Creek's program, which allows certain students to earn college credits for free.

"Getting two years of college for free, you gotta love that," said her father, Dale Paschall.