NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - s4story -- Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS), a tuition-free public charter school that serves 500 students in grades 5-12, recently held an enrollment lottery for the 367 applications they received for the 2026-2027 school year.

The school received 131 applications for Grade 5 and 92 rising 5^th grade students were offered seats. The first 33 of those 92 students are siblings of current students as siblings are given preference at each grade level. GLCPS received 125 applicants for Grade 6, 32 for Grade 7, 20 for Grade 8, 49 for Grade 9 and 10 for Grade 10.

Several families attended the lottery. Director of Student, Family and Community Life Adonis Ferreira and Office Manager Madalena Albano presided over the assembly with Executive Director Stephen Furtado, Jr. and Lena Pires also in attendance. School District translators Heide Guardado and Viviana Mendez were also present to assist families.  Grade 5 science teacher Polly Zajac also attended to lend her support.

Dr. Timothy Dale Walker, professor of History at UMass Dartmouth, was invited as an impartial observer to ensure that the lottery was public and fair.

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The enrollment period at GLCPS begins every first day of December and closes at the end of February each year. Families with students who will be entering grades 5 - 10 in the next school year are eligible to apply. Students who reside in New Bedford are given preference in the random drawing. The lottery is always held in early March. The school utilizes every opportunity available to publicize it, including radio advertising and appearances, press releases, social media, fliers and posters, billboards, and mailings to homes of New Bedford students.

Families are encouraged to start their school planning early as the best chance for a student to enter GLCPS is by applying in the 4th grade to start in the 5th grade. GLCPS offers small class sizes; individual student support and parents or guardians are part of the team. They have a college preparatory curriculum focused on critical thinking skills and a robust afterschool enrichment and academic program. The school features a state of the art STEAM Education Center with an innovation lab, science labs, music rooms and art rooms with a kiln.

"We are delighted to welcome out new students into our learning community for the next school year," said Stephen Furtado Jr., Executive Director of GLCPS. "We are always pleased to include siblings into our school and our GLCPS families provide us with the support and enthusiasm that create our amazing environment."
Additional information is available on the school's website at www.glcps.org or call 508-991-4105.