DPS Afterschool Programs Adopt Lottery Model

Durham Public Schools parents may have wanted assurances that their child would make it easily into an afterschool program in elementary school in the 2024-25 academic year.

What we’re getting instead?

Another lottery, similar to what parents use for magnet school applications. Previously, afterschool program access was first-come, first-served.

In a letter to families this week, Tracey Super-Edwards, DPS director of community education, wrote:

“We are excited to share that due to continued high demand for our elementary afterschool programs, we will launch a new lottery system … for our elementary programs only to ensure equitable access to afterschool care.”

The afterschool lottery window opens March 18 at 8 a.m. and closes on April 5 at 5 p.m. No lottery is required for before-school or middle school programs. DPS employees can register early and receive a monthly 15% discount between March 4-8.

Registration for before-school and middle-school programs will open May 13.

Getting Ready for the Elementary Afterschool Lottery

1. If you’ve already got a schoolmint.com account for the magnet school lottery, you just need to log in. New to the portal? You’ll have to create an account with your email address and password or phone number and password at https://applydpsnc.schoolmint.com.
2. Use your DPS student’s PowerSchool student identification number to pre-populate the student/parent information fields. Also, the data can be manually entered.
3. Select the school/program your child wants to attend. Registering siblings? Answer yes in the form to receive the sibling link, so siblings get a seat together or both siblings are waitlisted. Parents can opt out of the sibling link, which means one can be seated and not the other.
4. Complete the parent information and signature page. Submit application by April 5.
5. Families will get email notifications about the lottery results on April 12. If you are granted a seat and don’t complete registration by 5 p.m. on April 26, you will forfeit your seat.

Families that miss the lottery window can register in Procare/Schoolcare Works starting May 13 for any remaining seats.

For information, contact the accounting office at 919-560-9488.

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