DAYTON — Dayton middle school students will now have the option to attend Thornton Academy Middle School, as well as any other public middle or high school.

The Dayton School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to enter into an agreement with Thornton Academy that allows students, for the next 10 years, the option to apply to Thornton Academy Middle School, or TAMS.

Thornton Headmaster Rene Menard said children from more than 20 families have applied, but did not disclose how many have been accepted.

Thornton Academy is a private school that educates publicly funded students from Arundel, as well as private pay students from other communities, at its middle school. Thornton’s high school educates publicly funded students from Saco, Dayton and Arundel.

Dayton has a public school in town that educates students through the fifth grade. For many years, the town has sent middle school students to Saco Middle School and high school students to Thornton Academy.

As part of Regional School Unit 23, Dayton middle school and high school students were allowed the choice to attend Old Orchard Beach schools. As a separate school unit, an agreement is in place to continue this for the next 10 years.

Dayton School Board Chairman Denis Elie said in a written statement that he is very excited that Dayton Middle School students will now have the option to attend TAMS.

“Dayton has a long-standing tradition of having Thornton Academy educate our high school students and we look forward to extending that tradition to the middle school students who may decide to attend TAMS,” he said.

Dayton Superintendent Jeremy Ray said the tuition for TAMS will be the same rate as for public middle schools, which have a flat rate statewide.

Ray said the Dayton School Board has voted to allow all middle school and high school students the opportunity attend any public school of their choice.

School choice is very important to the board, said Ray, and with the redesign of the school district, they had the chance to give options.

“Why just limit it?” he said.

There are 81 middle school students total in Dayton, said Ray.

Menard said Thornton is adding three new classrooms in time for the next school year, and will likely hire two new teachers to accommodate the new students.

He said there’s been a strong interest from Dayton, as well as an increase in interest from private pay students.

“We’re going to try to accommodate as many students as we can,” said Menard.

Menard said there are currently about 150 students at TAMS, and he sees the school being able to accommodate 180 students.

Menard said it’s important to maintain the current school atmosphere, and keep student/teacher ratios low.

He said the school has “a nurturing environment” and a real “sense of community.” Students who go to the middle school have opportunities to take Advanced Placement classes in eighth grade, through the high school, and can get better acclimated to the campus before attending high school at Thornton.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].