Cherry Hill, N.J., to revisit school lottery

CHERRY HILL - The Cherry Hill School District is seeking community input as the school board weighs changes to the middle school lottery system, including the elimination of a waiting list for Rosa International Middle School.

The district has three middle schools, but only Rosa selects students through a lottery. Under changes proposed by a board committee, fifth graders who apply to Rosa through the lottery and are selected would be required to attend. Currently, those selected through the lottery can weigh whether to attend Rosa or the middle school in their geographic district - Beck or Carusi - resulting in a waiting list.

The lottery process drew criticisms this year from parents with children on the wait list. The proposal before the board wouldn't eliminate the process - but it would remove the word lottery, which "connotes winners and losers," according to the district.

The proposal will be discussed by board committees Monday and Wednesday, and by the full board Nov. 12. The district is also accepting feedback through its website, at: www.inquirer.com/rosa

- Maddie Hanna