Admission Policy
BLUE HILLS REGIONAL VOCATIONAL
TECHNICAL SCHOOL
ADMISSION POLICY
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 Blue Hills
Regional Vocational Technical School will be evaluated using the criteria
contained in this Admission Policy. The Blue Hills Regional Vocational School
District Committee approved this policy on December 2, 2003.
II.
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical 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 Blue Hills 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 their admission to the school.
III.
ELIGIBILITY
Any eighth or ninth grade student who is a resident
of the Blue Hills Regional Vocational School District (Avon, Braintree, Canton,
Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, Westwood) 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, subject to the
availability of openings to Blue Hills Regional Technical School. Resident
students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission
Policy. Priority for admission is given to District residents.
Students who are not residents of the Blue Hills School
District are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the
school year subject to the availability of openings to Blue Hills provided they
expect to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by their local district.
Nonresident students will be evaluated 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 Blue Hills 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
Blue Hills is a public regional vocational technical
school located on a scenic campus in Canton, Massachusetts. Blue Hills is
accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Blue Hills
is committed to providing quality vocational technical programs.
It is the responsibility of the Blue Hills
Superintendent to supervise the administration of the policies and procedures
required to admit and enroll applicants in conformity with this Admission
Policy.
The Blue Hills Regional Technical School Admissions
Board is charged with the process of selection of applicants for admission.
This Board is comprised of the Admission and Financial Aid Officer, the Special
Education Coordinator, and the Principal.
The Blue Hills Admissions and Financial Aid Officer
is responsible for disseminating information about Blue Hills through local
school assemblies and press releases, and for collecting applications from local
schools.
According to guidelines set in the District
Agreement, there are no set quotas for the number of students who are eligible
to apply or who are admitted to the school from individual member towns.
Blue Hills does not participate in the School Choice
Program.
V.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Blue Hills Regional Technical School disseminates
brochures, pamphlets, posters and application forms to the guidance departments
of the district’s sending schools. A direct mailing is also sent to all eighth
grade students and their parents in the fall of each school year. Blue Hills also holds an annual open
house in the fall for all residents of the district. 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.
The Blue Hills Admissions and Financial Aid Officer
visits each sending school and conducts assemblies for eighth grade students. Subsequent
to this, tours of Blue Hills are offered to every prospective student. A video
presentation provides potential applicants with information on the vocational
program offerings, academic course offerings, sports and extra-curricular
activities that are available at Blue Hills.
Included in the Admissions video presentations are
non-traditional career options for both males and females. Non-traditional career information is
also included in local cable television ads and other recruitment materials.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) may schedule individual visits
at a mutually convenient time.
VI.
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS-FOR FALL ADMISSION* TO THE NINTH and TENTH GRADE
1. Students interested in applying to Blue
Hills for fall admission to the ninth or tenth grade must:
a. obtain an application from their
local school Guidance Counselor as early in the school year as possible. Applications
are also available by contacting the Blue Hills Admissions Office directly.
b. return the completed application
form to their local school Guidance Counselor. Completed application packets
may also be sent directly to the Blue Hills Admissions Office.
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 Admission Officer at Blue Hills by March 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 term 1 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 term 1 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 term 1 of 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 term 1 of the current school year unexcused absences from the local school
report card/transcript is required.
For
applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and term 1 grade 8
assessments of behavior from the local school are required. For applications to
grades 10 (fall admission) the sum of the previous school year and term 1 of
the current school year assessments of behavior from the local school are
required.
For
applications to grade 9 and 10 (fall admission), the local school’s
recommendation is required.
(iii) Following receipt of a completed application packet,
an interview with each applicant will take place. All interviews are targeted
to be completed by April 1st.
3. If
incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be
followed:
a. The Admission Office at Blue Hills 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 Blue Hills 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 parent(s)/guardian(s), the application remains incomplete for ten school
days, the application will be placed on ‘inactive’ status, until such time as
the additional information is received.
APPLICATION PROCESS - FOR ADMISSION TO THE NINTH AND
TENTH GRADES FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR*
1. Students
interested in applying to Blue Hills for admission for the current school year
must:
a. obtain
an application from Blue Hills or from their local school Guidance Counselor.
b.
return the completed application form to their local school
Guidance Counselor as soon as possible. Completed applications may be sent
directly to Blue Hills.
c.
attend an interview at Blue Hills. If the applicant or
parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, a representative from Blue Hills
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 Admissions and Financial Aid Officer at Blue
Hills. 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 of the application
assessments of behavior from the local school are required.
For applications to grades 9 and 10 (admission
during the school year) the local school's recommendation is required.
3. If
incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be
followed:
a.
The Blue Hills Admission 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 Blue
Hills 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 placed on
‘inactive’ status, until such time as the additional information is received
LATE APPLICATIONS
Applications received after March 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.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Applications from students who are enrolled in a
state-approved (Chapter 74) Vocational Technical 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 Blue Hills. All transfer
applicants must attend an interview at the Blue Hills. If the applicant or
parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Blue Hills will
go to the local school to interview the applicant. Their applications will be
evaluated according to the provisions of this Admission Policy.
WITHDRAWN STUDENTS
Students who withdraw
from Blue Hills and who are attending or not attending another high school may
reapply to Blue Hills following the procedures contained in this admission
policy and will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission
Policy.
VII.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Completed applications
are processed by the Admission 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: Maximum 25
points
|
Grade Averages |
Points |
|
90 - 100 |
25 |
|
80 – 89 |
20 |
|
70 - 79 |
15 |
|
60 – 69 |
10 |
|
0 – 59 |
0 |
For applications to grade
9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and term 1 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 term 1 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 15 points
|
Number of Unexcused Absences |
Points |
|
0 – 2 |
15 |
|
3 – 4 |
10 |
|
5 - 6 |
5 |
|
7 or more |
0 |
For applications to grade
9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and term 1 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 term 1 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) unexcused
absences from the five previous completed terms will be used.
C. School
Discipline/Conduct: Maximum 25 points
|
Discipline/Conduct
Rating |
Points |
|
Excellent |
25 |
|
Above Average |
17 |
|
Average |
10 |
|
Below Average |
5 |
|
Poor |
0 |
For applications to grade
9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and term 1 grade 8 assessments from the
local school are used. For applications to grade 10 (fall admission) the sum of
the previous school year and term 1 current school year assessments from the
local school are used. For applications to grades 9, 10 (admission during the
school year) the current school year to the date of the application assessments
from the local school are used.
D. Local
School’s Recommendation: Maximum 10 points
|
Rating |
Points |
|
Excellent |
9 - 10 |
|
Above Average |
7 - 8 |
|
Average |
4 - 6 |
|
Below Average |
.2 - 3 |
|
Poor |
0 |
E. Interview: Maximum 25 points
|
Rating |
Points |
|
Excellent |
25 |
|
Above Average |
17 |
|
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 Blue Hills 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". 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. Applicants who have a
point total of 65 or higher will either be accepted or placed on a waiting
list. Applicants with scores below 65 will be declined. 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.
Non-resident applicants for Fall Admission will be considered only after May 1st.
Applications received after March 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 completed applications are
received by Blue Hills by March 1st will be interviewed. It is
expected that interviews will be completed by April 1st. Applicants
will be notified of their status by a letter to the student by mid-April.
Applicants whose completed applications are not received by Blue Hills by March
1st will receive a letter informing them of their status.
Accepted students must notify Blue Hills of their
intention to attend Blue Hills by May 1st. If no such notification
is received, applicants on the waiting list will be accepted in their place.
Thus a second round of acceptance letters will be sent after May 1st.
These letters will be sent by May 10th. The number of acceptance
letters sent will be based on the number of unfilled openings as of May 1st.
Students accepted in the initial round who notify
Blue Hills after the May 1st deadline will be placed on the wait
list based on their rank order score.
Accepted students from the second round must notify
Blue Hills of their intention to attend Blue Hills by May 21st.
A third round of acceptances will take place, if
openings remain, based on the process described above.
IX.
ENROLLMENT
In order to enroll at Blue Hills Tech for the fall,
applicants must have been promoted to the grade they wish to enter by their
local school district. In addition, they must have passed courses in English
language arts or the equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately
preceding their enrollment at Blue Hills.
X.
VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT
All ninth graders who enroll in Blue Hills Regional
Technical School participate in a vocational technical exploratory program
designed to help them learn about their talents and interests relative to a
variety of different vocational-technical programs. Students initially explore
each vocational technical shop for one period. Then, students rank all programs
and explore eight of them for one week. Students are evaluated and scored (0-50
points) by each shop teacher during the week in each shop. At the end of this
eight-week exploratory period, each student selects his/her program of choice,
as well as a second and third choice. Students are admitted into the shop of
their choice based on the point total they received in all shops combined. 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
student’s second or third 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 or third 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.
Students who enroll in Blue Hills Tech 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 program.
Students who wish to transfer from one shop to
another during the school year 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 Blue Hills indicating that the applicant was not accepted or
placed on a waiting list, may request a review of the decision by sending a
letter requesting a review to the Principal within thirty days of the receipt
of the letter. The Principal will respond in writing to the letter with the
findings of the review within thirty days. If after the review, the
parent/guardian wishes to appeal the findings of the review they may do so by
sending a letter requesting that they be scheduled to appear before the
Superintendent to appeal the Principal’s findings. The Superintendent will respond
in writing to the parent/guardian with a scheduled date for the appeal within
thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The Superintendent will respond in
writing to the letter with their decision on the appeal within thirty days of
the Superintendent meeting when the appeal was presented.
The applicant's
parent/guardian, upon receipt of a letter from Blue Hills indicating that the
applicant was not accepted or placed on a waiting list for a particular program
(shop)(major) list, may request a review of the decision by sending a letter
requesting a review to the Principal within thirty days of the receipt of the
letter. The Principal will respond in writing to the request with the findings
of the review within thirty days.
XII.
PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF SENDING TOWNS
The Blue Hills Admissions
Department will send to the Superintendent of Schools of each of our member
towns, on or before October 1st of each year, a list of all students
enrolled in Blue Hills for that year. This is required by statute, and is for
the purpose of maintaining consistency in the reporting of student enrollment
in the annual Department of Education SIMS report.
We want to ensure that no
town is being assessed for any student that is not truly resident in that town.
To that end, we will send to each town by July 1st of each year a
list of all accepted applicants claiming residency in that town, whose
residency may be in question. Students who have attended private schools, out
of district schools, or whose residency appears unclear for other reasons will
be included on this list. Students who are applying to Blue Hills whose 8th
grade transcript is being forwarded by that town’s own school will be assumed
to have valid residency.
We will work cooperatively
with our member towns to verify residency of any given student. The following
notice is included on all applications:
Notice:
All
applicants must reside in one of our member towns (Massachusetts General Laws,
Chapter 76), unless approved under the MGL Chapter 74 Vocational Program
Non-Resident Process. Falsifying residency information for the purpose of
attending Blue Hills Regional Technical School is illegal. Blue Hills has and
will seek financial reimbursement from the parent or guardian of any applicant
who is admitted based on fraudulent residency claims. Blue Hills will also
fully cooperate with any member town that chooses to investigate residency
claims by applicants.