Success Academy Cobble Hill Lottery Held Today

A random admissions lottery for Success Academy Charter Schools was held today, the network announced. Families will be notified by mail next week whether or not their children received a seat and the organization will maintain a waitlist for children who do not immediately gain enrollment. 

According to a press release, Success Academy Cobble Hill received 340 applications from the neighborhood (1,429 in total) for 170 seats in kindergarten and first grade.

"The lottery gives priority first to English Language Learners, then to students in District 15 where Cobble Hill is located," said Kerri Lyon, a representative for Success Academy Charter Schools to Carroll Gardens Patch. Nearly 20% of applicants are English Language Learners, according to the release.

"Another interesting fact is that 191 applicants to Cobble Hill come from District 13, enough to fill the entire school," said Lyon. "While it's unlikely we'll be able to take many, if any, out of district students this year, it shows that there is demand in D-13 for more high quality options and we're hoping to open a school in D-13 for the 2013-14 school year." 

In fact, the Brooklyn Success Academy charter was originally granted by the SUNY Board of Trustees for Districts 13 and 14, but re-assigned to District 15 . 

While the Success Academy has faced who say the neighborhood doesn't want the school, officials posit that the application numbers prove otherwise.

"Those who say communities don’t want or need more options clearly aren’t listening to their constituents, who are lining up by the tens of thousands for seats in high quality schools,” said Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, in the press announcement this afternoon.

When asked for comment regarding recent news that the Brooklyn School for Global Studies—which occupies the same building Success Academy Cobble Hill is co-located to—, Lyon responded with enthusiasm.

"We've said all along we're looking forward to working with all the schools in the building to create a campus of excellence that attracts families from across the school district," she said.