2013 Peabody Vocational Technical High School Admission Policy for Vocational Technical Education Programs
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. If there are more applicants than available openings, a selection process is necessary to determine which applicants may most benefit from such educational opportunities. All applicants to grades nine through eleven at Peabody Vocational Technical High School will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this admission policy. For students applying to a two-year program, the applicant will apply in their sophomore year for entrance in their junior year. II. EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY It is the intent of the Peabody Vocational Technical High School and the Peabody Public Schools to comply with all provisions of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Carl Perkins Vocational Education Act of 2006(Carl Perkins IV), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and P. L. 94-142. Peabody Vocational Technical High School admits student 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 of limited English proficiency, a qualified staff member from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School will assist the applicant in completing the necessary forms and assist in interpreting during the entire application and admission process. This will be done on 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/or 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 vocational technical education program, if the applicant meets a qualifying score. 2
III. ELIGIBILTY Any student who resides in the Peabody Public School District is eligible to apply for admission to the vocational technical programs of Peabody Vocational Technical High School. The applicant must be eligible to be promoted into the grade that they seek to enter by their local school, for fall admission or admission during the school year. Admission during the school year will be subject to the availability of openings in the chosen program. Transfer students from other school districts are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year to grades 9-12 at Peabody 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. Transfer students must be previously enrolled in a Chapter 74 program to transfer into a Peabody program mid-year. If an opening does not exist, the applicant will be placed on the waiting list by order of their cumulative score. IV. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Peabody Vocational Technical School is a public vocational school located on the campuses of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, and Higgins Middle School. Peabody Vocational Technical High School and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Peabody Vocational Technical High School is committed to providing quality vocational technical educational programs. The City of Peabody does not participate in the School Choice Program. V. ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE It is the responsibility of the Peabody Vocational Director to supervise the administration of the admission policies and procedures that are required to enroll applicants in conformity of the Admission Policy. It is also the responsibility of the Peabody Vocational Director to oversee and appoint the admission committee. Responsibilities of the Admissions Committee include: Determination of standard for admission Development and implementation of admission procedures Processing of applications 3
Ranking of students Acceptance of students according to the procedure and criteria in the admission policy Establishment and maintenance of a waiting list of acceptable candidates VI. RECRUITMENT PROCESS The Peabody Vocational Director is responsible for disseminating information about Peabody s vocational technical education programs through local school assemblies and press releases, and for collecting applications from students. The Director disseminates information about the programs through a variety of methods. Visitations with guidance counselors to 8 th grade classes at Higgins Middle school are scheduled An Open House for prospective students and their parents/guardians is scheduled in the fall. Students and parents have an opportunity to learn more about available programs and offerings. Parents/guardians may schedule individual visits at a mutually convenient time. Brochures, which describe vocational technical programs including academic courses, cooperative education, and special education resources, are distributed. Maintenance of a vocational technical website which is accessible by the general public. All 8 th grade students have an opportunity to attend Career Day which is held at the Higgins Middle School. All vocational technical classes are represented. VII. APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Application: Students interested in applying to Peabody Vocational Technical School for fall admission to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade programs must obtain a program application from their school guidance counselor. Applications must be completed and returned by the published deadline date. Return the completed form, with parent signature, to the guidance counselor or Admissions Committee representative. 4
2. Grades: Applications for grade 9 fall admission will be considered using the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 grades in English language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. A transcript is required and must accompany the application. Applications for fall admission to grades 10 and 11must include the average of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year grades in English language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. A transcript is required and must accompany the application. 3. Attendance and Disciplinary Records: Each applicant must submit attendance and disciplinary records from the previous two years of school. Attendance and disciplinary records will be requested by the Admissions Committee from the student s guidance counselor or dean. 4. Recommendations: The Admissions Committee will request recommendation from the student s dean and guidance counselor. 5. Interview: The student will be required to meet with the Admissions Committee for a brief interview. The purpose of the interview is to clarify the student s reason for attending Peabody Vocational Technical School, choice of program, career goals, interests and motivation. In the case of a student s absence, the student must contact either their guidance counselor or the Admission Committee to reschedule the interview at a mutually convenient time. Late Applicants: Applications received after the notification of acceptance has been mailed to students will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications. Their composite score will be integrated in rank order on the established waiting list VII. SELECTION CRITERIA Completed applications are processed by the Admissions Committee using weighted admissions criteria. Each applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of the following criteria: A. Scholastic Achievement. For applications to grade 9, the average of grade 7, 1 & 2 of the currents school year marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the school report card/transcripts are used. For applications to grades 10, 11, or 12 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the currents school year marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcripts are used. 5
For applications to grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) the current school year-to-date of the application marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used. Maximum points=40 Grade Averages Points Awarded 100-90 10 89-80 8 79-70 6 69-65 4 64 or below 0 B. Attendance: For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 total unexcused absences and tardies from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 10, 11 and 12 (fall admission) the sum of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 current school year total unexcused absences and tardies from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date of the application, total unexcused absences and tardies from the local school report card/transcript are used. Four tardies will be counted as one absence. Maximum Points=30 Number of Unexcused Points Awarded Absences and Tardies 0-10 30 11-20 20 21-30 10 over 30 0 C. School Discipline and Conduct: For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the full discipline records of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 of grade 8 from the local school administrative office are used. For applications to grades 10, 11 and 12 (fall admission) the discipline records of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year from the local school administrative office are used. For applications to grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 (admission during the school year) the previous school year and current school year discipline record to the date of the application from the local school administrative office are used. 6
Maximum Points=10 Discipline Conduct Points Awarded Rating No discipline incidents 10 1-3 minor incidents 8 4-6 minor incidents 6 Suspension 4 More than 1 0 suspension D.. Guidance Counselor s Recommendation: Maximum 20 points Rating Points Awarded Excellent 20 Above Average 15 Average 10 Below Average 5 Poor 0 E. Interview: Maximum: 20 points Rating Points Awarded 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 twenty(120) points can be earned. VIII. SELECTION PROCESS The Admission Committee at Peabody Vocational School will examine, discuss and make recommendations for action on the applicants. The Admission Committee considers scholastic achievement, attendance, school behavior, Guidance Counselor's recommendation 7
and interview results. Applications are reviewed, processed and assigned points by grade level. After a point total for each applicant has been determined, all applicants are placed in order of their "point total". Applicants are then accepted in order of the point total they have achieved. The applicant with the highest point total is accepted first, the applicant with the second highest point total is accepted second, and so on until all seats are filled. All applicants are accepted, declined, or placed on a waiting list. If openings occur, the seats are filled by accepting applicants from the waiting list. These 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. Applications received after April 1st 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 Peabody Vocational School by April 1 are notified of their status by a letter to their parents/guardians and their local school Guidance Counselor by mid-may IX. ENROLLMENT In order to enroll at Peabody Vocational School for the fall, applicants must have been promoted to the grade they seek to enter. 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 Peabody Vocational School X. REVIEW and APPEALS The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt of a letter from Peabody Vocational 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 Vocational Director within thirty days of the receipt of the rejection/wait list letter. The Vocational Director will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days. 8