Word appears to be spreading about Dartmouth’s School Choice program, which allows students from outside of the district to attend Dartmouth schools.

Dartmouth Public Schools used a lottery to narrow down the 43 candidates applying for 30 new openings in the program, said Superintendent Bonny Gifford.

“I think through word of mouth, people became aware of it,” Gifford said. “Last year, no one expected Dartmouth to participate in School Choice, so people weren’t looking for it.”

Acceptance letters were sent out this week. The deadline to reply is May 19. Should any student turn down their slot, it will be filled by a student not picked in the first lottery.

In March, the School Committee voted to continue School Choice for a second year with an additional 30 slots at the high school, bringing the total number of slots to 60. Students who enter the program progress through the school system until graduation. Currently, it is only open to high school students.

Of the accepted students, 23 students will enter the freshmen class and four will enter the sophomore class. Unlike last year, which only offered slots to incoming lowerclassmen, Gifford opened a small number of slots to incoming juniors, of which three were accepted.

“It’s harder for kids to decide to leave their school once they’re acclimated to it,” Gifford said of the number of freshmen applicants. Of those accepted, 15 are from New Bedford; 11 from Westport; two from Acushnet; and two from Swansea.

Last year, the district received 33 applications for the initial 30 openings.

Gifford said she’s already planning improvements to the application process for next year, should the School Committee give the go-ahead to continue the program. It must be approved by a vote every year.

To accommodate students applying from private schools, Gifford plans to have the application process earlier. This year, eight accepted students are from private schools like Bishop Stang and Nativity Prep.

Gifford originally proposed a 40-slot increase to the program in March, but School Committee members felt that number was too high. The program brings in $5,000 per student per year, paid by the district sending students to a School Choice district.