Alma del Mar Charter Schools operates two K-8th grade charter public schools in New Bedford. The schools are tuition-free and enrollment is set by a public lottery each winter. Alma’s mission is to put every scholar on the path to college and to challenge them to be service-minded leaders. Alma achieves this mission by providing a demanding and supportive education to every scholar who walks through their doors. Alma features a longer school day, a longer school year, high
expectations for all scholars, and outstanding teachers from across the country.

Executive Director: Taylor DeLoach
Address: Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus is located at 515 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746
Frederick Douglass Campus is located at 767 Church Street, New Bedford, MA 02745
Phone Number: 774-762-4896
Website: www.almadelmar.org
Email Address: info@almadelmar.org
Hours of Operation: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Friday

Alma del Mar’s school year begins the third week of August and ends the third week of June each year. Newly-enrolled scholars are invited to attend orientation in the spring and summer before their first day of school.

Alma offers free Afterschool Programming to all scholars in grades K-8 throughout the school year. Scholars in grades K-5 have access to on-site arts and crafts sessions, as well as specialized clubs such as knitting, Pokemon, drawing, and more, during our Afterschool Program. In addition to these options, Scholars in grades 6-8 also have the opportunity to try out for Alma’s seasonal sports teams, including soccer, flag football and basketball. 

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Alma welcomes all English Language Learners and Special Education students. Our scholar support team at Alma delivers inclusive, specialized, and all-encompassing services to rigorously meet the needs of every scholar. It is our privilege to ensure that we develop our scholars' own unique abilities. Alma offers direct instruction in English Language Development as well as Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) instruction to students who require ELL support. All Alma teachers receive their SEI endorsement, and all Alma classrooms support English Language Learners to be academically successful across content areas.

Scholars at Alma begin to learn about high school and college pathways in kindergarten, when they go on their first college visit. By seventh grade, Alma scholars are having one-on-one conversations with our Secondary Schools Guidance Counselor about their future, and making thoughtful plans about how to get there. Our counselors support scholars with their high school applications, obtaining recommendation letters, and navigating the scholarship process.

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Alma is a free, public school. There are no admission costs.
Transportation is provided.

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Alma del Mar's enrollment application deadline is February 19, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications are available at www.almadelmar.org/apply