Bristol County Agricultural High School

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Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Admissions

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Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

ADMISSIONS POLICY

June 21, 2017

Amended February 21, 2018

Amended August 25, 2021

Amended June 22, 2022

available online at: www.oldcolony.us

En caso de necesitar esta política de admisión en otro idioma, por favor, póngase en contacto con

la oficina central al 508-763-8011.

Que você deve exigir esta política de admissão em outro idioma, entre em contato com o

escritório principal em 508-763-8011.

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 eleven at Old Colony Regional

Vocational Technical High School will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission

Policy. The District School Committee of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

approved this policy on August 25, 2021.

II. EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical 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, housing status, sexual orientation, limited English proficiency,

or disability as defined and required by state and federal laws.

If there is a student with limited English proficiency, a qualified representative from Old Colony

Regional Vocational Technical High School will assist the applicant in completing the necessary

forms and assist in interpreting during the entire application and admissions process.

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.

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III. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Any eighth or ninth grade student who is a resident of Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Rochester or

Mattapoisett who expects to be promoted to the grade they seek to enter by his/her local school

district is eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year provided that

space is available. Resident students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this admission

policy. Priority for admission will be given to residents (students from Acushnet, Carver,

Lakeville, Rochester or Mattapoisett) according to the District Agreement and meeting all of the

application and criteria selection.

Non-resident students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy

and pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74 s. 7S and 8A. Resident students who meet the minimum

requirements for admission shall be admitted prior to acceptance of any non-resident students

seeking the same course of study. The Guidelines for Vocational Technical Education Program

Nonresident Student Tuition Process Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74 are located at

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter74.

Transfer students from other vocational technical schools are eligible to apply for fall admission

or admission during the school year to grades 9-11 at Old Colony Regional 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.

Home-Schooled Applicants may apply for admission to grade nine or ten at Old Colony Regional

Vocational Technical High School, including admission during the school year, provided all

admissions policy criteria are followed. The home schooled student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) must

submit a copy of the Home School Approval Letter from the sending school superintendent. Home

schooled students will be accepted to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

according to the selection criteria contained in this admission policy. Please refer to Section VI -

Application Process for additional information regarding selection criteria.

Homeless Applicants will be accepted to Old Colony according to the selection criteria contained

in this admission policy per Homeless Education Advisory 2015-9.

Students who have been expelled from school pursuant to General Law Chapter 71, Section 37H

of the Educational Reform Act of 1993, are not eligible to apply for admission to the school.

Old Colony does not participate in School Choice.

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IV. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School is located on an eighty (80) acre

campus in Rochester, the geographic center of the five (5) member town school district which

includes: Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett and Rochester.

Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Old Colony Regional

Vocational Technical High School is committed to providing quality vocational technical and

academic programs.

It is the responsibility of the Old Colony Superintendent to supervise the administration of the

policies and procedures required to admit and enroll applicants in conformity with this Admission

Policy.

Old Colony has an Admissions Committee appointed by the Superintendent. The committee

consists of representatives of the Administration, Guidance, Special Education, 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

A member of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Admissions Team is

responsible for disseminating information about the school through visits to local middle/junior

high schools, local school assemblies and press releases. Applications should be submitted to Old

Colony using the online application program. In the event that access to technology is an issue,

information may also be submitted to a member of the Old Colony Regional High School

Admissions Team. The Admissions Policy is approved by the Old Colony District School

Committee prior to filing with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

V. RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School disseminates information about the

school through a variety of methods.

a. Old Colony hosts an annual luncheon for area Guidance Counselors to review the

Admission Policy and procedures.

b. In the fall or early winter, an Old Colony representative visits the District towns to

conduct a presentation of the programs available at Old Colony. This includes discussion

of opportunities for students to pursue non-traditional careers.

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c. In the fall, Old Colony provides transportation for all 8

grade students from member

schools to attend a vocational exploration day at Old Colony.

d. Students are encouraged to tour the school. The tour includes presentations about

vocational-technical programs including academic offerings, athletic programs, extra-

curricular activities and clubs.

d. In the fall, a Career Awareness Open House is held for parents, guardians, and interested

members of the surrounding communities.

e. Articles are published, using various mediums, about specific accomplishments of Old

Colony students in traditional and non-traditional programs, cooperative education, and

the school in general.

f. The Old Colony website contains pertinent up-to-date information about the school,

student accomplishments, academic, vocational-technical, student clubs, and athletic

programs.

g. Additional meetings and tours for parents/guardians and applicants are arranged upon

request through the Guidance department.

VI. APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION PROCESS-FOR FALL ADMISSION TO THE NINTH AND TENTH GRADE (for

consideration in the first round of admissions, applications must be submitted by the second Friday in

February)

a. Students interested in applying to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

for fall admission to the ninth, tenth, grades must:

• Obtain an application from their sending school Guidance Counselor or from the

Old Colony Guidance Office, or apply online from the Old Colony website.

• Return the completed application to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical

High School at which time their respective Guidance Department will be contacted

by Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School for supporting

documentation.

• Attend a scheduled interview with an Old Colony representative at their sending

school or Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School.

*Protocol for Interview Process

Old Colony staff members who interview students as part of the Admission Policy

requirements will adhere to the following protocol.

• Participate in a training for interviewing techniques;

• Maintain confidentiality;

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• Ask only the questions on the interview form;

• Score the interview based on the Admission Policy criteria;

• Submit all scoring and interview documentation to the Guidance Department

to ensure safe and confidential storage; and

• Documentation will be reviewed by the Admissions Team.

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School interviews students

without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, housing

status, sexual orientation, limited English proficiency, or disability as defined and

required by state and federal laws.

b. It is the responsibility of the sending school counselors to:

1. Complete their portion of the application form.

2. Forward the completed applications to the Admission Team at Old Colony

Regional Vocational Technical High School by the second Friday in February.

Complete applications include:

i. Completed application form (including required signatures).

ii. Transcripts are required for all applications. For fall admission, the final

grades of the previous school year along with mid-year grades for the

current school year in English language arts, social studies, math and

science from the local school report card/transcript are required. For

applications to grade ten (fall admission) the average of the previous school

year and terms one & two of the current school year marks in English

language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report

card/transcript are required.

iii. Attendance records are required for all applications. For applications to

grade nine (fall admission), the sum of grade seven and terms one & two

grade eight unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript

are required.

iv. For applications to grade ten (fall admission) the sum of the previous school

year and terms one & two current school year unexcused absences from the

local school report card/transcript is required.

v. Disciplinary records are required for all applications. For applications to

grade nine (fall admission), the average of grade seven and terms one & two

grade eight assessments of behavior from the local school report card or

from the local school guidance counselor's assessment are required. For

applications to grade ten (fall admission) the average of the previous school

year and terms one & two 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.

vi. For applications to grades nine and ten (fall admission), the local school

guidance counselor's recommendation is required.

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c. Applications are considered complete when all required application materials are received

by Old Colony.

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

1. The Admission Team at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

will notify the sending school counselor responsible for submitting the application

and the applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) that the application is incomplete and will

request completion.

2. If after notifying the local school guidance counselor and parent(s)/guardian(s), the

problem is not resolved and the application remains incomplete for ten school days,

the application may be voided.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS - FOR ADMISSION TO THE NINTH,

TENTH, AND ELEVENTH GRADES FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR*

a. Applications for grade nine will be accepted throughout the course of the school year.

Applications for grade ten or eleven (from another Chapter 74 program) must be submitted

no later than September 20

. The following steps should be taken for those interested in

transferring to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School:

1. Obtain an application from their sending school Guidance Counselor or from the

Old Colony Guidance Office, or apply online from the Old Colony website.

2. Return the completed application form to their local school guidance counselor by

the deadline set by the guidance counselor

3. Attend an interview at the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High

School. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, a

representative from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will

go to the local school to interview the applicant.

4. Applications for transfer students should be completed and received by September

b. It is the responsibility of the local school guidance counselors to:

1. Complete their portions of the application form.

2. Forward the completed applications to the admission recruiter at Old Colony

Regional Vocational Technical High School. Complete applications include:

i. Completed application form (including required signatures).

ii. For applications to grades nine, ten & eleven (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.

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iii. For applications to grades nine, ten & eleven (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.

iv. For applications to grades nine, ten, & eleven (admission during the

school year), the current school year to the date of the application

assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local

school report card/transcript are required.

v. For applications to grades nine, ten and eleven (admission during the

school year), the local school guidance counselor's recommendation is

required.

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

1. The Admission Office at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

will notify the local school guidance counselor responsible for submitting the

application and the applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) that the application is

incomplete and will request completion.

2. If after notifying the local school guidance counselor and parent(s)/guardian(s),

the problem is not resolved and the application remains incomplete for ten schools

days, the application may be voided.

LATE APPLICATIONS

Applications received after the second Friday in February will be evaluated using the

same criteria as other applications and their composite scores will be evaluated using

the criteria contained in this admission policy.

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 Old

Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School provided that space is available in

the technical program of enrollment. All transfer applicants must attend an

informational meeting at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. If

the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Old

Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School may arrange to go to the local

school to meet with the applicant. Transfer applications will be evaluated according to

the provisions of this Admission Policy.

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WITHDRAWN STUDENTS

Students who withdraw from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

and who are attending, or not attending another high school, may re-apply following

the procedures contained in this Admission Policy and will be evaluated using the

criteria contained herein.

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VII. SELECTION CRITERIA

The Admission Board will use weighted admissions criteria to processes completed applications. Each

applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of the following criteria:

A. Attendance: Cumulative Unexcused Absences - Maximum 30 points (15 points each year)

15 points - 0 to 3 days absent

10 points - 4 to 6 days absent

5 points - 7 to 9 days absent

0 points - 10 or more days absent

B. Conduct: Maximum 20 points (10 points each year)

10 points - Zero suspensions or incidents imposed pursuant to MGL c.71 37H, 37H½, 37H¾

0 points - One or more incidents resulting in suspension imposed pursuant to MGL c.71 37H,

37H½, 37H¾

C. Counselor recommendation: Maximum 5 points

5 points - Excellent candidate

4 points - Above average candidate

3 points - Average candidate

2 points - Below average candidate

0 points - Poor candidate/Not recommended

D. Academic Record: Maximum 20 points (10 points each year)

[taken from English, math, social studies and science grades]

10 points - A/A- average (90-100%)

8 points - B/B- average (80-89%)

6 points - C/C- average (70-79%)

4 points - D/D- average (60-69%)

0 points - F average (below 60%)

E. Interview: Maximum 25 points

25 points – Excellent candidate

20 points – Above average candidate

15 points – Average candidate

10 points – Below average candidate

0 points – Poor candidate

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. In the event that scores for acceptance and wait list are the same point

total, high scores in the following areas will be utilized as tie-breakers: 1

Interview, 2

Academic Record,

Conduct, 4

Attendance, 5

Recommendation.

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VIII. SELECTION PROCESS

The Admission Board at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will examine,

discuss, and make recommendations for action on the applicants. The Board considers scholastic

achievement, attendance, conduct, local guidance counselor's recommendation, 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 descending

order based on 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 are accepted in the order of their positions on the waiting list as determined by the total

points given according to the selection criteria.

Applications received after March 1

will be evaluated using the same criteria as all other

applications and their composite scores will be integrated in rank order on the established waiting

list.

XI. ACCEPTANCE, REVIEW, and APPEALS

Upon notification from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School indicating that

the applicant was not accepted, the applicant may request a review of the decision by sending a

letter to the principal within ten working days of the notification. The principal will respond in

writing to the letter with the findings of the review within ten working days. If after the review,

the parent(s)/guardian(s) wishes to appeal the findings of the review, he/she can do so by

submitting a request in writing to the superintendent/director within ten working days. The

superintendent/director’s decision will be final and will be communicated in writing to the

parent(s)/guardian(s) within ten working days of the notification of the appeal.

X. ENROLLMENT

In order to enroll at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School for the fall, applicants

must have been promoted to the grade they wish to enter by their local school district. Students

who are accepted and intend to enroll must notify Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High

School of their intention by the notification date identified in their acceptance offer. Students who

do not respond by the notification deadline may be placed on the waiting list.

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XI. VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT

All ninth graders are exposed to an exploratory program that lasts eight weeks in duration. Each

student rotates through all thirteen vocational programs. Five exploratory shops are selected by the

student to gauge initial interest and potential changes for data collection purposes. The rotations

are such that each student is in each vocational area for approximately three days and no less than

two days.

After the conclusion of the eight week exploratory phase, each of the ninth grade students

completes a Vocational Program Selection Sheet. At that time, each is asked to select the

vocational programs of interest in rank order. The selections are made in order from 1

choice to

choice.

Program assignments are made based on the cumulative score that each student has earned

during the exploratory phase in each of the thirteen areas of exploration. The Vocational grade

average will account for 85 points of the cumulative score. The related grade average will

account for 15 points of the cumulative score. Scores are calculated using the following criteria:

Students are evaluated by the instructors daily in related and in shop. Students may earn a

total of up to 100 points per program. A grade is calculated for each exploratory program.

After completing the exploratory programs, an overall exploratory average will be

calculated.

Related (15 points maximum)

• Applied Academic Foundation

• Engagement

• Professionalism

Shop (85 points maximum)

• Employability

• Safety

• Professionalism

• Workmanship

• Productivity

• Engagement

The categorical criterion are listed below:

Advanced 5 points

Proficient 4 points

Approaching Proficiency 3 points

Needs Improvement 2 points

In addition to the grade averages, attendance and discipline are factored into the ranking score.

Points are subtracted from the score for excessive unexcused absences, tardies/dismissals or

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excessive disciplinary infractions based upon the rubric below. For the purpose of this rubric, a

disciplinary incident is defined by an event resulting in a write up with a consequence of a warning

or detention.

Attendance

0-3 days/tardies/dismissals unexcused 0 points deducted

4-6 days/tardies/dismissals unexcused 1 point deducted

7-9 days/tardies/dismissals unexcused 2 points deducted

9+ days/tardies/dismissals unexcused 5 points deducted

Discipline

0-3 incidents 0 points deducted

4-6 incidents 1 point deducted

7-9 incidents 2 points deducted

9+ incidents or suspension 5 points deducted

Once the ranking score has been determined, students are placed according to their choices. Once

a program is filled, students are given their second choices, then third choices, etc. until all

vocational programs are filled.

All incoming tenth grade and transfer students are placed in vocational areas based on available

space. The availability of vocational spots is a factor in accepting/placing these students. Transfer

requests are accepted from all students as space allows. Students are encouraged to place their

names on waiting lists. After enrolling, any transfer student may request that his/her name be added

to an existing waiting list for a given program. Current Old Colony transfers will take priority over

late acceptance transfers as space permits.

XII. VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT AND APPEALS

The applicant’s parent(s)/guardian(s), upon notification from Old Colony Regional Vocational

Technical High School indicating that the applicant was not accepted in a particular program or

placed on a waiting list for a particular vocational program, may request a review of the decision

by sending a letter to the principal within ten working days of the notification. The principal will

respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within ten working days. The

principal’s decision will be final.

Adopted: January 18, 2006

Amended: February 21, 2018

Amended: August 25, 2021

Amended: June 22, 2022