NBPS Announces Neighborhood Zone for New Alma del Mar Charter School

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Public Schools has announced the adjusted boundaries within the NBPS district, which will accommodate a new, state-mandated Commonwealth charter school in the City of New Bedford as authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on January 22, 2019.

The new school, Alma del Mar II Charter School, will operate differently from other Commonwealth charter schools in that it will enroll students exclusively from a newly designated neighborhood school attendance zone.

The unique compromise is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, City of New Bedford/New Bedford Public Schools, and Alma del Mar. The MOU was approved by the New Bedford School Committee on March 21, 2019.

The former Horatio A. Kempton School building, located at 135 Shawmut Avenue, will be the Alma del Mar II new charter school location. Alma II plans an initial opening for its new school in fall 2019 with a total of 200 seats in Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 6. Only students who currently live within the newly designated neighborhood school attendance zone as determined by NBPS will be enrolled. Boundary lines were determined based on the proximity to the Kempton location:

Easterly, along I-195 East

Southerly, along Route 18 South

Westerly, along Linden Street

Northerly, along Summer Street

Westerly, along Durfee Street

Southerly, along Shawmut Avenue

Easterly, along Campbell Street

Southerly, along County Street

Westerly, along Mill Street/U.S. Route 6 West

Northerly, along Liberty Street

Westerly, along Durfee Street

Northerly, along Hathaway Boulevard

Easterly, along Potter Street

According to the MOU, if the number of students exceeds the allotted number of seats, siblings and students who live closest to the new Kempton campus will be given preference. Families who wish to remain in their current school and not attend the new Kempton campus must complete a Change of School Assignment (COSA) form.

New Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Anderson emphasized that “the education of the children in New Bedford is a priority and New Bedford Public School’s focus remains on providing the highest quality teaching and learning process to prepare our students to compete on a global scale.”

--New Bedford Public Schools