Sussex Academy Elementary School Lottery Update

SAES Lottery Update: Due to the verification process with Data Services taking longer than anticipated, the results of the SAES lottery have been delayed until 3pm on Thursday, April 23. We will be unable to answer any questions until the results are posted. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Sussex Academy Elementary School to Open for the 2020-21 School Year

On March 19, 2020, Delaware Secretary of Education, Dr. Susan Bunting, and the State Board of Education approved Sussex Academy’s charter modification request to add an elementary school beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.  Sussex Academy Elementary School will open its doors in August, 2020 on the current Jefferson School campus in Georgetown, Delaware, with approximately 160 students. Applications for enrollment are now being accepted.

Sussex Academy Elementary School will be a tuition-free public charter elementary school for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5.  All students seeking enrollment, including incoming Kindergarten students, must submit an enrollment application. A DOE Standard School Choice application should accompany the enrollment application.  Please note that at the conclusion of the enrollment period, grade-level lotteries may need to be held if the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats at one or more grade levels. If lotteries are required for the 2020-2021 school year, then they will take place on Monday, April 20, 2020.

Please note that since we are in the middle of the student application period, not all questions can be answered at this time.  Until enrollment has been finalized, we will not have definitive answers about grade-level enrollment, bus routes, student daily schedules, specific curriculum expectations, etc.  This and other information will become available in late-spring.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SAES Lottery Update: Due to the verification process with Data Services taking longer than anticipated, the results of the SAES lottery have been delayed until 3pm on Thursday, April 23.  We will be unable to answer any questions until the results are posted. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Who should I contact for information about the Sussex Academy Elementary School?

A: Please direct questions to Sussex Academy (302-856-3636 or info@saas.k12.de.us) and NOT the Jefferson School.  The Jefferson School is still operating through the end of the 2019-2020 school year as a private school and will not be able to answer your questions about Sussex Academy.

 

Q: Who can attend Sussex Academy Elementary School?

A: Sussex Academy Elementary School will be a tuition-free public charter school and any elementary age student may submit an application.  However, ALL students who would like to receive consideration for enrollment must submit an application, even students who currently attend the Jefferson School.

 

Q: How do I submit an application for my child to attend Sussex Academy Elementary School?

A: Complete a DOE Standard School Choice application and a Sussex Academy enrollment application before 4:00pm on April 9, 2020.  Sussex Academy utilizes the services of the Data Services Center for application submission and processing. Our admissions application can be accessed online at https://www.schoolchoicede.org/Apply/SussexAcademyElementary.  Paper applications may be printed from our website AND can also be picked up at the Jefferson School, 22051 Wilson Road, Georgetown, DE 19947.

 

Q: When is the application period?

A: Applications will be accepted between March 20 and April 9, 2020.

 

Q: How many students will be accepted?

A:  Sussex Academy Elementary School will have an enrollment of 160 students for the 2020-21 school year.  Future enrollment is expected to reach a maximum of 240 students.

 

Q: Where will the new school be located?

A: Sussex Academy Elementary School will be located at 22051 Wilson Rd, Georgetown, Delaware, the current location of the Jefferson School.

 

Q: Can I take a tour of the elementary school?

A: Since the Jefferson School is still operating as an independent private school through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, no individual tours will be scheduled.  An Open House had been scheduled but has been postponed due to the school closures caused by the current Coronavirus pandemic.

 

Q: What will happen if there are more applicants than available seats?

A: Grade-level lotteries may need to be held if the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats at one or more grade levels.  If lotteries are required for the 2020-2021 school year, then they will take place Monday, April 20, 2020.

 

Q: How will Sussex Academy Elementary School compare to the current Sussex Academy Middle/High School?

A:  Students who attend Sussex Academy Elementary School will be provided with a high caliber elementary education consistent with the distinguished 20-year history of Sussex Academy.  Students will be held to the same academic and behavior expectations of current students. Student services (transportation, school lunch, activity fees, etc.) will mirror current Sussex Academy practices.  And yes, students will be required to wear uniforms.

 

Q:  What will make Sussex Academy Elementary School different from area elementary schools?

A:  Consistent with the mission of Sussex Academy, the school will foster academic achievement and social responsibility in a small-school setting.  At maximum capacity, the school will enroll 240 students. Campus resources will allow for a unique Environmental Science program and the school’s Spanish Literacy program will provide all students the opportunity to learn Spanish in conjunction with the language arts curriculum.

 

Q:  Since I have an older child already enrolled at Sussex Academy, will my elementary age child be automatically enrolled due to the current sibling preference?

A: Yes, the sibling preference will be applied to enroll students for Sussex Academy Elementary School.  The elementary student will still need to complete enrollment applications. If you have more than one elementary student, an application must be completed for each child.

 

Q:  Will the enrollment of my elementary child allow my older child to benefit from current sibling-preferences offered to current Sussex Academy families?

A:  Since the middle/high school enrollment lottery has already occurred for the 2020-21 school year, students’ enrollment at Sussex Academy Elementary School will not guarantee a sibling-preference enrollment for the middle/high school; however, middle/high school siblings will be moved to the top of the waiting list for the middle/high school.  Any family seeking enrollment of a middle or high school student must submit an enrollment application for the older child.

Coronavirus Information

March 18, 2020 Update:

  • Drive-thru food pantry available in Georgetown: Food Pantry Information
  • To support Delaware Public Schools, DART is offering students free bus rides on regularly scheduled bus routes to access school meal programs from 10 AM to 2 PM until schools are back in session: DART Information

 

March 16, 2020 Update:

Online Learning

Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 all Sussex Academy classes will transition to an online format.  All grade levels will use Schoology as the main platform to communicate class information.  Link to Online Learning Plan

Accessing Free Wifi

Comcast has announced that Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.

School Meal Program

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) has received a waiver from the federal government to allow school nutrition programs to provide meals to students during the closure.  DDOE has posted a current list of open meal sites for students. The list may be updated as we receive new information. Sussex Academy students may receive meals from any sites on the list even though they do not attend the districts’ schools. Families may pick up meal bags for children 18 and under who live in their home. Children must be present, but you do not need to sign up in advance to receive meals. Any family needing additional information may contact the Sussex Academy main office.

 

 

March 15, 2020 Update

On Friday, March 13, Governor Carney declared that all public schools in Delaware will close for a period of two weeks, from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27.  Faculty and staff at Sussex Academy have developed a plan to provide continuous instruction through online learning and will be spending Monday, March 16 preparing course assignments.  Monday will be considered a day off for students. Students should plan to begin accessing online assignments on Tuesday, March 17. We will send a message to students on Monday which will include a schedule for this week and directions for students to access online learning assignments. 

 

 

March 12, 2020

 

 

March 3, 2020

Staff from Sussex Academy continue to closely monitor the coronavirus (now named COVID-19) situation and will follow any guidance provided by Delaware Division of Public Health and the Department of Education. It is also important to note that there are no confirmed cases in Delaware at this time and that the Division of Public Health has stated that the risk to the general public remains low.

The Delaware Division of Public Health has shared important information on symptoms, transmission, risk, and treatment:

As a reminder, if your child is sick, please keep him/her home from school. To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus and flu, follow these important tips:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.
  • Get vaccinated every year

Sussex Academy will continue to work with health officials to establish protocols in the event that coronavirus does spread in Delaware. More information will be shared as this plan develops.

Mobile Logo