PORTLAND — A Lewiston-Auburn group is one of four groups applying for the last three charter school slots in Maine.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Acadia Academy in Lewiston-Auburn, Inspire ME Academy in York County, Peridot Montessori Education in Hancock County and Snow Pond Arts Academy in Sidney by Tuesday’s deadline.

The Acadia Academy was proposed by the Margaret Murphy Children’s Center for students through pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. This is the second year it has applied for a charter school spot. The Maine State Charter School Commission voted unanimously not to advance the 2014 application. 

The Maine Charter School Commission will take a first vote Oct. 13 on advancing the new applications to the second phase of the review process. It will make a final decision on Nov. 17.

Schools approved by the commission would open in fall 2016.

State law allows a maximum of 10 charter schools. Maine already has five brick-and-mortar charter schools and two virtual charter schools. More than 1,500 students attend charter schools in Maine, which has about 184,000 total students.