I. INTRODUCTION
An admission process is necessary in vocational technical schools where space is a limiting factor. Vocational technical laboratories (shops) are designed and equipped to serve a specific maximum number of students safely. Consequently, a complex of such laboratories lacks both the space and flexibility to accommodate the possible needs and/or interests of all applicants. Therefore, a selection process is necessary to determine which applicants may most benefit from such educational opportunities. All applicants to grades nine through twelve at Westfield Vocational Technical High School will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy. The Westfield Public School Committee approved this policy on

II. EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Westfield Vocational Technical High School admits students and makes available to them its advantages, privileges and courses of study without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. If there is a student with limited English proficiency, a qualified representative from Westfield Vocational Technical High School will assist the applicant in completing the necessary forms and assist in interpreting during the entire application and admission process upon the request of the applicant. Disabled students may voluntarily self-identify for the purpose of requesting reasonable accommodations during the entire application and admission process. Information on limited English proficiency and disability submitted voluntarily by the applicant, for the purpose of receiving assistance and accommodations during the entire application and admission process, will not affect the applicant's admission to the school.

III. ELIGIBILITY
Any eighth or ninth grade student who is a resident of the Westfield School District who expects to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their local district is eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subj~ct to the availability of openings to Westfield Vocational Technical High School. Resident students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy. Priority for admission is given to Westfield residents according to the District Agreement. Students who are not residents ofthe Westfield School District are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subject to the availability of openings to Westfield Vocational Technical High School provided they expect to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their local district. Nonresident students will be eyaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy. Transfer students from other vocational technical schools are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year to grades 9-12 at Westfield Vocational Technical High School provided they expect to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their current school. Transfer students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Westfield Vocational Technical High School is a local public school that serves the residents of Westfield and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Westfield Vocational Technical High School is committed to providing quality vocational technical programs. It is the responsibility of the Westfield Superintendent to supervise the administration of the policies and procedures required to admit and enroll applicants in conformity with this Admission Policy.

Westfield Vocational Technical High School has an Admission Committee appointed by the Director. The committee consists of a member of the AssessmentlMarketing Coordinator, Guidance, Special Needs, Vocational Technical and Academic Departments. Responsibilities of the Admissions Committee include:

A. determination of standards for admission
B. development and implementation of admission procedures
C. processing of applications
D. ranking of students
E. acceptance of students according to the procedure and criteria in the admission policy
F. establishment and maintenance of a waiting list of acceptable candidates

The Westfield Vocational Technical High School AssessmentlMarketing Coordinator is responsible for disseminating information about Westfield Vocational Technical High School through local school assemblies and press releases, and for collecting applications from the local schools. Westfield Vocational Technical High School does not participate in the School Choice Program.

V. RECRUITMENT PROCESS
1. Westfield Vocational Technical High School disseminates information about the school through a variety of methods.

a. Visitations with an informational slide presentation to 8th grade classes in local schools by Westfield Vocational High School staff from October to January are scheduled.
b. An Open House during National Vocational Education week is scheduled. Prospective students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) have an opportunity to visit all vocational-technical programs and speak with teachers as well as view a presentation about all offerings.
c. Parent(s)/guardian(s) may schedule individual visits at a mutually convenient time.
d. Brochures, which describe vocational technical programs including academic courses, sports, cooperative education, and special education resources, are distributed during the 8th grade visitations and the Open House.

VI. APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS-FOR FALL ADMISSION! TO THE NINTH and TENTH GRADE
1. Students interested in applying to Westfield Vocational Technical High School for fall admission to the ninth and tenth grade must:

a. obtain an application from the local school Guidance Counselor as early in the school year as possible.
b. return the completed application form to the local school Guidance Counselor by the deadline set by the Guidance Counselor.
2. It is the responsibility of the local school Guidance Counselor to:
a. complete the designated portion of the application form.
b. forward the completed applications to the Assessment/Marketing Coordinator at Westfield Vocational Technical High School by April 1st. Complete applications include:
(i) Completed application form (including required signatures).
(ii) For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 marks in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcript are required. For applications to grades 10 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year marks in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcript is required.

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and terms I & 2 grade 8 unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are required.

For applications to grades 10 (fall admission) the sum of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 current school year unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript is required.< br>
For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor's assessment are required. For applications to grades 10 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms 1& 2 of the current school year assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor's assessment are required.

For applications to grade 9 and 10 (fall admission), the local school Guidance Counselor's recommendation is required.

If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed:
a. The Admission Office at Westfield Vocational Technical High School will notify the local school Guidance Counselor responsible for submitting the application that the application is incomplete and will request completion.

b. The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the Westfield Vocational Technical High School Admission Office in the event that the problem is not resolved by the local school Guidance Counselor.

c. If after notifying the local school Guidance Counselor and parentes)/guardian(s), the application remains incomplete for ten school days, the application will be voided.

APPLICATION PROCESS - FOR ADMISSION TO THE NINTH AND TENTH GRADES FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR

1. Students interested in applying to Westfield Vocational Technical High School for admission for the current school year must:
a. obtain an application from their local school Guidance Counselor.
b. return the completed application form to their local school Guidance Counselor by the deadline set by the Guidance Counselor.
c. attend an interview at the Westfield Vocational Technical High School. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, a representative from Westfield will go to the local school to interview the applicant.
2. It is the responsibility of the local school Guidance Counselor to:
a. complete their portion of the application form.
b. forward the completed applications to the Assessment/Marketing Coordinator at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. Complete applications include:
(i) completed application form (including required signatures)

(ii) For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date of the application, marks in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report card! transcript are required.

For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date of the application, unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are required.

For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date ofthe application, assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor assessment are required.

For applications to grades 9 and 10, (admission during the school year), the local school Guidance Counselor's recommendation is required.

3. If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed:

a. The Westfield Vocational Technical High School admissions office will notify the local school Guidance Counselor responsible for submitting the application, that the application is incomplete and will request completion.

b. The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the Westfield Vocational Technical High School Admission Office in the event the problem is not resolved by the local school Guidance Counselor.

c. If after notifying the local school Guidance Counselor and parent(s)/guardian(s), the application remains incomplete for ten school days, the application will be voided.

LATE APPLICATIONS

Applications received after the deadline may not be accepted. If accepted, they will be will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and the composite score will be computed. They will be placed in rank order on the established waiting list.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Applications from students who are enrolled in a state-approved (Chapter 74) vocational technical high school program in another school (transfer students) will be considered for admission (including admission during the school year) if they relocate away from their current school and wish to pursue the same program of study at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. All transfer applicants must attend an informational meeting at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Westfield will go to the local school to meet with the applicant. Such applications will be evaluated according to the provisions of this Admission Policy.

WITHDRAWN STUDENTS

Students who withdraw from Westfield Vocational Technical High School and who are attending or not attending another high school may reapply to Westfield Vocational Technical High School following the procedures contained in this admission policy and will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.


VII. SELECTION CRITERIA

The Admission Committee using weighted admissions criteria processes completed applications. Each applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of the following criteria:

A. Scholastic Achievement: Maximum 20 points

Grade Ave	Points
90 - 100	5
80 - 89	4
70 - 79	3
60 - 69	2
0 - 59	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 10 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms I & 2 of the current school year marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year), the current school year to the date of the application marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/ transcript are used.

B. Attendance: Maximum 20 points

Number of Unexcused Absences	Points
0-10	20
11 - 20	15
21 - 30	10
31 - 40	5
41 plus	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and terms 1& 2 grade 8 unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 10 (fall admission), the sum of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 current school year unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date of the application, unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are used.

C. School Discipline/Conduct:Maximum 20 points

Conduct Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1& 2 grade 8 assessments from the local school report card/transcript or from the local school Guidance Counselor's assessment are used. For applications to grades 10 (fall admission), the average of the previous school year and terms 1& 2 current school year assessments from the local school report card/transcript or from the Guidance Counselor's assessment are used. For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission during the school year), the current school year to the date of the application assessments from the local school report card/transcript or from the local school Guidance Counselor's assessment are used.

D. Local Guidance Counselor's Recommendation: Maximum 20 points

Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

E. Interview: Maximum 20 points

Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

After points are given in each area, the points are totaled for each applicant. A maximum total of one hundred (100) points can be earned.

VIII. SELECTION PROCESS

The Admission Committee at Westfield Vocational Technical High School will examine, discuss and make recommendations for action on the applicants.

The Admission Committee considers scholastic achievement, attendance, school behavior, local Guidance Counselor's recommendation and interview results. Applications are reviewed, processed and assigned points by grade level.

After a point total for each resident applicant has been determined, all resident applicants are placed in order of their "point total" and town of residence. Resident applicants are then accepted in order of the point total they have achieved. The resident applicant with the highest point total is accepted first, the resident applicant with the second highest point total is accepted second, and so on until all seats are filled. All resident applicants are accepted, declined, or placed on a waiting list. If openings occur, the seats are filled by accepting resident applicants from the waiting list. These resident applicants, like those accepted earlier, are accepted in order of their place on the waiting list determined by the total points given according to the selection criteria.

Non-resident applicants are evaluated using the criteria in this Admission Policy and will be placed on the waiting list after the resident applicants. Non-resident applicants on the waiting list will only be accepted if all resident applicants on the waiting list have been accepted.

Applications received after April I st will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and their composite score will be integrated in rank order on the established waiting list.

All applicants whose applications are received by Westfield Vocational Technical High School by April I are notified of their status by a letter to their parents/guardians and their local school Guidance Counselor by mid-May. Applicants whose applications are not received by Westfield by April I st will receive a letter each school quarter informing them of their status.

IX. ENROLLMENT

In order to enroll at Westfield Vocational Technical High School for the fall, applicants must have been promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their local school district. In addition, they must have passed courses in English language arts or its equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately preceding their enrollment at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. Applicants who fail English language arts and lor mathematics will be required to take a summer school make-up course and/or enroll in the summer bridge program at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. The summer bridge program is an academic support program in English language arts and Mathematics.

X. VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT

All ninth graders who enroll in WestfieJd Vocational Technical High School participate in a half school year vocational technical exploratory program designed to help them learn about their talents and interests relative to a variety of different vocational technical programs. In addition, Vocational technical program (shop) teachers evaluate students during the exploratory program. Students initially explore each vocational technical shop for one day. Then, students list their top 4 exploratory choices and explore each of them for one week. At the end of this exploratory period, each student selects his/her program of choice, as well as a second choice from the four explored shops.

Students who enroll in Westfield Vocational Technical High School after grade nine may explore vocational technical programs that have openings, before making a program selection. Students are evaluated and graded by each shop teacher during the period of exploration. If the number of enrollees seeking a particular shop exceeds the number of openings, the evaluative grades received by the students rank ordered would determine the enrollee or enrollees who are placed in the particular shop.

. Each shop teacher evaluates students during the week in each,shop. They are evaluated and scored (total of 0-100 points) on shop grades received for the week (25 points), attendance (25 points), discipline/conduct (25 points) and recommendations from vocational technical instructors (25 points). A maximum of 400 points could be earned for the 4 weeks.

Students are admitted into the shop of their choice based on the point total they received in all shops combined during the four-week exploratory period. For example, a student with a point total of 392 would be admitted before a student with a point total of 390. If a shop fills, based on point total, before a student gets his/her first choice, the guidance counselor then moves to the students' second choice depending upon whether there is an opening in the shop. Again, the student is admitted based upon overall point total. If a student's point total in all shops combined is so low that they were not placed in their second choice shop because the shops were filled by students with higher point totals, the guidance counselor will meet with the student and present a list of the shops with openings which the student explored and ask the student to choose one of them. Again, students selecting shops from among the shops with openings, which the student explored, will be admitted based on their point totals. The process continues until all students are placed.

After placement students continue to explore the shop in which they were placed for the remainder of the half school year in order for them to continue to learn about their talents and interests. Students who wish to transfer from one shop to another may apply for transfer. Transfer requests will be considered subject to the availability of openings in the requested shops. Each transfer applicant will be interviewed and counseled individually to determine the appropriateness of the transfer for the particular student.

XI. REVIEW and APPEALS
The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt of a letter from Westfield Vocational Technical High School indicating that the applicant was not accepted or was placed on a wait list, may request a review of the decision by sending a letter requesting a review to the Superintendent within thirty days of the receipt of the rejection/wait list letter. The Superintendent will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days. If after the review, the parent(s)/guardian(s) wish to appeal the findings of the review this may be done by sending a letter requesting that they be scheduled to appear before the School Committee to appeal the Superintendent's findings. The School Committee will respond in writing to the parent(s)/guardian(s) with a scheduled date for the appeal within thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The School Committee will respond in writing to the letter with their decision on the appeal within thirty days of the School Committee meeting when the appeal was presented. The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt ofa letter from Westfield Vocational Technical High School indicating that the applicant was not accepted or placed on a wait list for a particular program (shop) (major), may request a review of the decision by sending a letter requesting a review to the Superintendent within thirty days of the receipt of the rejection/wait list letter. The Superintendent will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days.