Sussex Academy Lottery Welcomes 146 New Families to Charter School
Sussex Academy Announces Lottery Results, Highlighting Demand for Charter Education Opportunities
Sussex Academy, a tuition-free K–12 public charter school located in Georgetown, Delaware, has recently released the outcomes of its lottery held on January 16, resulting in invitations extended to 146 families for enrollment in the upcoming academic year. This announcement underscores the growing interest in charter school options within the state, reflecting broader trends in parental choice in education.
Kyle Bentley, Head of School at Sussex Academy, expressed gratitude for the support received from the community and affirmed the school’s commitment to providing an accelerated educational experience in an intimate setting. “We embrace the fact that families in Delaware have a choice and are grateful for the community support that we have from families that are applying to be a part of an accelerated educational program in a small school setting,” Bentley stated.
In Delaware, families are afforded the opportunity to enroll their children in any public, charter, or vocational-technical school, independent of their residential address, provided the child is first enrolled in their home school. This process involves completing a choice application via SchoolChoiceDE.org. To facilitate informed decision-making, Sussex Academy conducted outreach efforts to share details about its educational offerings and enrollment procedures through open houses and targeted communications.
Enrollment caps at Sussex Academy are determined by its charter agreement with the State of Delaware. As the number of applications often exceeds available spaces, a lottery system is instituted to ensure fairness in the selection process. This year, Sussex Academy received an impressive 1,350 applications for just 146 available spots, categorized as follows: 40 in kindergarten, 80 in 6th grade, five in 7th, 20 in 9th, and one in 11th grade.
Bentley noted the reliance on a transparent lottery system, stating, “As a public charter school, we are a true lottery. We use a third-party vendor in the Data Services Center to process applications and conduct the lottery for families that believe in our school mission.” Families not selected for immediate enrollment will receive information regarding their status on a waiting list, which remains active until September 30, in compliance with Delaware legal guidelines.
The demand for slots at Sussex Academy is noteworthy; currently, there are over 1,000 families on the waiting list, indicating a significant appetite for alternative educational pathways. As Bentley elaborated, “We give enrollment preference to children of staff and siblings,” and the school currently reports that more than 300 families are waiting for spots in kindergarten and 6th grade alone.
This sustained interest in charter schooling options further highlights the evolving educational landscape in Delaware as families seek tailored learning environments for their children. With 665 families waiting for elementary placements, 314 for middle school, and 198 for high school, Sussex Academy’s lottery process not only responds to the immediate needs of applicants but also illustrates the broader demand for innovative and diverse educational experiences, pivotal in shaping Delaware’s future educational framework.
