BY ROSANNA LANDIS WEAVER — About 450 students applied to the new College Park Academy for the 300 slots (150 each for 6th and 7th grade) by the January 31 deadline. The school is scheduled to open this fall in the former St. Mark’s School on Adelphi Road in Hyattsville. On February 6, 300 students were selected via lottery, with remaining names – as well as others who have applied since then – being added to a waiting list.  Families who have received notification of admittance have until March 11 to confirm whether they will attend, and then the school will start notifying those high on the waiting list.
Hiring is also moving forward. The board has nearly completed the hiring process for the executive director and is conducting final interviews for the principal’s job. The principal will hire the teaching staff during May and June.
In a meeting for parents on February 22 and 23, the school confirmed some basics: Hours will be 8:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m., uniforms will be required and each student will get a laptop to use both in and out of school. Classroom teachers will cover English, math, P.E. and science, while online instructors will handle social studies, electives and enrichment courses.