I. INTRODUCTION

An admission process is necessary for vocational technical programs in which there are more applicants than openings.  All applicants to the vocational technical education programs for grades nine through twelve at Barnstable High School will be evaluated using the selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy.  The Barnstable School Committee approved this policy on December 1, 2021.

II. EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

• Barnstable High School admits students and makes available to them its advantages, privileges and courses of study without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or homelessness.
• If there is a student with limited English proficiency, a qualified staff member from Barnstable 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. 
• Students with disabilities 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.

III. ELIGIBILITY

• Any eighth, ninth, tenth or eleventh grade student enrolled in Barnstable High School is eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subject to the availability of openings to the vocational technical education programs at Barnstable High School. 
• Resident students will be considered for admission to the program(s) using the selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy.  Priority for admission is given to Barnstable School District residents. Students who are not residents of the Barnstable School District are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year provided they expect to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their current school.  Nonresident students will be considered for admission to the program(s) using the selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy.
• Transfer students from state approved chapter 74 state-approved vocational technical programs are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year to the vocational technical education programs grades 9-12 at Barnstable 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 selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Barnstable High School is a public school located in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Barnstable High School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Barnstable High School is committed to providing quality vocational technical education programs.

It is the responsibility of the Barnstable High School Principal to supervise the administration of the policies and procedures required to admit and enroll applicants in conformity with this Admission Policy.

Barnstable High School has an Admission Committee appointed by the Principal. The committee consists of a member of the Administration, School Counseling, Special Education, Vocational Technical and Academic Departments. Responsibilities of the Admissions Committee include:

1. determination of standards for admission
2. development and implementation of admission procedures
3. processing of applications
4. ranking of students
5. acceptance of students according to the procedure and criteria in the admission policy
6. establishment and maintenance of a waiting list of acceptable candidates

Barnstable High School participates in the School Choice Program.

V. RECRUITMENT PROCESS

1. The Barnstable High School Vocational Technical Education Department disseminates information about the programs through a variety of methods.

1. Visitations with an informational slide presentation to 8th grade classes are scheduled from October to January.
2. 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 at a scheduled Open House (based on COVID restrictions).
3. Parent(s)/guardian(s) may schedule individual visits at a mutually convenient time.
4. Brochures and/or videos which describe vocational technical programs including academic courses, cooperative education, and special education resources, are distributed during 8th grade visitations, in BHS Experience, virtually, and at Open House.

VI. APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION PROCESS - FOR FALL ADMISSION TO THE NINTH, TENTH, ELEVENTH GRADE PROGRAMS

1. Students interested in applying for admission to the ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade vocational technical education programs for fall admission must:
   obtain an application from the Barnstable High School.
   return the completed application form by the deadline.
   
   
2. If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed: 
   The student and the applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified.
   If after notifying the 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 the accepted late application is received prior to the computer generated lottery for selection, they will be placed into the lottery.  Students who apply to  the program after the lottery has been completed will be placed at the end of the waitlist in order of their application for admission.

TRANSFER PROCESS
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 from their current school and wish to pursue the same program of study at Barnstable High School.  All transfer applicants must attend an informational meeting at Barnstable High School. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Barnstable High School will go to the local school to meet with the applicant.  Their applications will be evaluated according to the selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

WITHDRAWAL PROCESS
Students who wish to withdraw from a Chapter 74 program must complete a course withdrawal form.  Students who withdraw from Barnstable High School’s vocational technical education programs may reapply for admission to Barnstable High School’s vocational technical education programs following the procedures contained in this admission policy and will be evaluated using the selection criteria contained in this Admission Policy. 

VII. SELECTION PROCESS

• Students who applied using the application described in Section VI are scheduled to participate in the program unless there are not enough seats to accommodate all of the students who have applied.  
• If there are not enough seats to accommodate all students, students will be selected by the following means.   

SELECTION CRITERIA
In the event of oversubscription, a lottery process will be used to determine which students will be admitted to the Chapter 74 program. In the event of oversubscription, student names will be placed in a computer generated lottery for selection.  After the students are selected, the remaining students will be placed on a waitlist in lottery order.  The waitlist will be maintained for the current school year.  If a seat becomes available, students on the waitlist will be contacted in the order of the waitlist and given the opportunity to enroll in the program.  If a student is no longer interested in enrolling in the program they will complete a waitlist withdrawal form and will be removed from the waitlist.  Students who apply the program after the lottery has been completed will be placed at the end of the waitlist in order of their application for admission.  

TRANSFER STUDENTS 
Students who transfer into the district during grades 9, 10, or 11 may apply for the Chapter 74 program(s) during the course selection process.  Transfer students will be admitted according to the selection process.  Applications from students in grades 9-12 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 from their current school and wish to pursue the same program of study at Barnstable High School.  

VIII. REVIEW 

The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s), upon notification that the applicant was placed on a wait list for a particular program, may request a review of the process by sending a letter requesting a review to the Principal within thirty days of the receipt of the wait list letter.  The Principal will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days.