Schools to Use Lottery for Admission of Students
The Pasadena Unified School District has implemented a lottery to replace its first-come, first-served placement system.
Last year, parents pitched tents outdoors to be the first to apply for seats at the Don Benito Fundamental School, which serves elementary grades; the Marshall Fundamental School, grades 6 through 12; and Nooma Coombs Alternative School, kindergarten to 8th grade.
Under the new system, special consideration will be given to siblings of students already enrolled at preferred schools. Individual students will then be selected at random by a computer program, officials said.
The system will also take into account such factors as ethnicity, gender, geographical location, economic status, language and special needs, district officials said.
Applications are available throughout this month at district schools and the district office at 351 S. Hudson Ave.
Applications will be accepted from Jan. 4 to March 12.
The April 9 drawing will be televised on local cable and all applicants will be notified by April 19.
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