Our Enrollment Policy is available here.
Alma del Mar is an open enrollment, free charter public school. Admission is based on a random, public lottery. There are no admissions tests or interviews. Alma del Mar invites all students in New Bedford to enter the lottery. The school welcomes English Language Learners, Limited English Proficient students, and Special Education students.
Click here to access our 2023-2024 Enrollment Application in English
Click here to access our 2023-2024 Enrollment Application in Spanish
Our lottery for the 2023-2024 school year will be held on February 28, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Applications are available on our website. Visit www.almadelmar.org and click Admissions, and then choose Applications. Applications are available in English and in Spanish.
The deadline for applications has been EXTENDED to Friday, February 24, 2023, at 5:00pm. If you require assistance filling out the application visit our Family Center located at 777 Church St (formerly Fisher College) between 9 am-2 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Reminder about Sibling Applications – Applications must be submitted for siblings of current scholars. Families should submit a separate application for each sibling. When completing each application, families should write the name of their current Alma scholar inside the appropriate section of the application to ensure their siblings get preference in the lottery.
A campus preference option is listed on our application. You may select whether you prefer your scholar to attend Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus (open to scholars in Kindergarten-8th grade) or Frederick Douglass Campus (open to scholars Kindergarten-8th grade), and we will do our best to accommodate you. However, Alma del Mar holds the right to place your scholar at either campus based on numerous factors including but not limited to: seat availability, proximity for transportation, special education programming, etc.
Below are the 2022-23 lists of accepted Kindergarten and Sixth Grade:
Below are the waiting lists for Grades K-8:
For Your Information
What grades does Alma del Mar offer? The Alma del Mar: Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus offers grades K-8 with 50 scholars in each grade. This campus offers one point of entry: Kindergarten (50 seats).
During the 2023-24 school year, the Alma del Mar: Frederick Douglass Campus will offer grades K-8 with 50 scholars in each grade K-5 and 98 scholars in each grade 6-8. This campus offers two potential points of entry: Kindergarten (50 seats) and Sixth Grade (50 seats).
How do I enroll my child at Alma del Mar?
All admissions are based on a lottery. Every student from New Bedford who applies prior to the application deadline has an equal chance of acceptance.
Do I need to live in New Bedford for my child to be eligible?
You may apply to Alma del Mar if you live anywhere in Massachusetts. Children who live in New Bedford will receive priority over children who do not. Given that Alma del Mar has a long waitlist, it is unlikely that children from outside New Bedford will have the opportunity to attend Alma del Mar.
Do siblings have an advantage in the lottery process?
If you have more than one child whom you would like to enroll at Alma del Mar, you must complete a separate application for each child. Each application will be treated independently.
Once one of your children is enrolled at Alma del Mar, your other children will receive priority over children who do not have a sibling at Alma del Mar.
May I attend the lottery?
Absolutely! The lottery is a public event that is open to anyone who would like to attend. The times and places of all lotteries will be posted on the website. You do not have to be present at the lottery to be chosen for an open spot.