Applying to Butler Academy

No, it is not. At Butler Academy, we firmly believe that every child deserves an amazing education. Creating a public school that discriminates based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or any other characteristic would be in direct opposition to why our school was founded. It would also be illegal. 

This misconception may stem from the fact that Butler Academy was created in response to the inequities that have existed in our county for decades. These inequities are easily quantified by the academic disparities that exist between black and white students in our county. For example, for various grade levels throughout the last decade, you’ll find that white students have read at 2 to 3 times the proficiency level of their black counterparts. However, black students are not the only students who have been underrepresented, underserved, or otherwise marginalized by existing school systems. Therefore, creating a segregated learning environment is not the solution! 

To the contrary, it is our mission to create an enthusiastic culture of learning that works for everyone. We expect that our academic success stories will be a proud reflection of the diversity of our community. Our goal is to provide families in Darlington County and the surrounding communities with a learning environment in which household income, social status, and the presence (or absence) of adverse childhood experiences are no longer predictors of academic success. Discrimination in education is not acceptable. Not here. Not anywhere.

BA is open to all students. Anyone can attend BA as long as he or she is a South Carolina resident and there is space available in his or her grade level. 

The application window for the 2024-25 is now open and closes on March 1. Applications received outside of that window are added to the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.

No. Current BA scholars are invited to return the following year and do not have to go through the initial enrollment proceedings. Current families wishing to re-enroll will have to complete a few forms to confirm intent to return and update contact information.

The application window for the upcoming school year will close at midnight on March 1. A lottery will be held via Google Meet at 5:30 p.m. on March 2 and lottery results will be available online immediately following the lottery.

No. You can login using the same email address and password that you used to sign up originally. Then enter your child(ren) into a lottery for the upcoming school year. If you’ve forgotten your password, click on the “Forgot Password” button for assistance.

Yes, any new students that want to attend BA must submit an application online. When prompted, choose the following preference group: “Applicant is a sibling of a currently enrolled student at Butler Academy.”

No, but they are given a higher priority in the lottery, as long as you selected the appropriate preference group when you signed up his sibling. However because of our commitment to small class sizes, we will always have a limited number of seats available. Siblings of currently enrolled scholars have priority as long as seats are available.

On March 2 at 5:30 p.m. virtually via Google Meet. We will make the link available to all applicants on March 2 prior to the lottery.

No. Attending the lottery on is not mandatory or necessary.

Yes. Lottery results will be available online immediately following the lottery on the Lotterease website. Results will be displayed by Application ID and will also be emailed to each applicant directly.

It’s a unique number that your child is assigned when you submit their online application into the lottery. This number was sent to you by email from Butler_Academy@lotterease.com. If you don’t see the email, please check your spam/junk folder.

You will receive an email and a text if your child gets selected. You will receive an email only if your child is waitlisted.

You will have 3 days to confirm the seat. If you do not accept the seat by the deadline, Lotterease will automatically withdraw your child’s name from the lottery and notify the next scholar on the waitlist.

You have 7 days from the date you confirm the seat to submit your enrollment forms. Failure to do so will result in your removal from the lottery and the seat will be offered to the next scholar on the waitlist.

While we are not able to give individual tours, we are hosting two in-person tours/info-sessions in February.

We are also hosting a Family Workshop Series on January 5.

Yes, two in-person info sessions/tours will be held at 9 am on Saturday, February 17, 2024 and Thursday, February 29, 2024 @ 5:30 pm. Bring your questions as there will be time for Q & A as well!

We are also hosting a Family Workshop Series on January 5, 2024 from 9 am to 12 noon. This conference-style event is designed to be an immersive experience where you will learn more about our school culture and rigorous academics and the resources available to support you and your scholars.

No. Both info sessions in February will offer the same information. Please choose the date that works best for your schedule.

The Family Workshop Series held on January 5, on the other hand, is a unique opportunity to dig even deeper into what makes BA special. We recommend attending this workshop series in addition to one of the info sessions, if you are able.

Yes. Waiting lists are created in each grade level when the lottery runs if there are more applications than there are spaces available. Once that list is created, any new applicants will be added to the waiting list on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Once you have accepted your child’s seat, all sibling applicants are moved to the next available seat or spot on the waiting list in their respective grade level. A seat for the sibling applicant is not guaranteed, but he or she will be given higher priority in the waiting list.