Worcester Public Schools (WPS) provides a wide range of career and vocational technical education (CVTE) programs for high school students and adults.

With more than 30 programs (approved Chapter 74 and non-approved Chapter 74) available, CVTE equips scholars with specific skills and practical knowledge that directly prepares them for employment in various trades and professions, which enhances their employability and contributes to economic growth.

Students are admitted via a tiered lottery process.

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Worcester Technical High School (Worcester Tech) hosts 23 career/vocational technical education (CVTE) programs, which are all Chapter 74-approved. These trades include advanced manufacturing, auto technology, robotics, welding, graphic communication, hospitality management, veterinary assisting, early childhood, and several others.

At Worcester Tech, students spend one week in their career trade program for the entire school day, and the following week in academics.

Worcester Tech has an annual tiered lottery admissions process for incoming ninth-grade students. Once a student is enrolled, they go through “Freshman Exploratory” in which they spend time in different career technical programs before selecting one for their four years of high school. (Read the tiered lottery admissions policy.)

The 2025 timeline to apply for Chapter 74 career/vocational technical education (CVTE) programs for Worcester Technical High School, Doherty Memorial High School, North High School, and South High Community School, is as follows:

• January 6, 2025-February 14, 2025: Applications Accepted

• February 14, 2025: Application Period Closes

• Wednesday, March 12, 2024: Lottery Held

• Lottery results are shared with families immediately after drawing and will be posed on the schools' websites by Friday, March 14, 2025.

Doherty, North, and South high schools each host a select number of career/vocational technical education (CVTE) programs that are Chapter 74-approved.

• There is an annual lottery admission process for incoming ninth-grade students.

• Students will receive information from their schools in eighth grade on how to participate in the admissions lottery.

• The lottery admission process for Ch. 74 programs at Doherty, North, and South is separate from Worcester Technical High School.

North, South, and Burncoat high schools also host non-Chapter 74 CVTE elective programs.

• If an incoming ninth-grade student is interested in participating in a Chapter 74 CVTE program at Doherty, North, or South high schools, they apply directly for the CVTE program they desire. (This is different from the Worcester Technical High School process, in which a student applies for admission to the school, and then chooses a program after beginning the ninth grade.)

• Students are selected through a tiered lottery admissions process.

• If the student is accepted into the CVTE program, they are also accepted into the school hosting that program.

The 2024 timeline to apply for Chapter 74 career/vocational technical education (CVTE) programs for Worcester Technical High School, Doherty Memorial High School, North High School, and South High Community School, is as follows:

• January 2-March 28, 2024: Applications Accepted

• Wednesday, April 10, 2024: Lottery Held

• Thursday, April 11, 2024, by 11:00 AM: Lottery Results Posted Online

• Apply through this form for the CVTE programs at Doherty, North, and South.

• Applications for the 2024-25 school year will be accepted from January 23-March 28, 2024.

View the Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Admissions Policy

Innovation Career Pathways (ICP) is an extended day career technical education program for WPS high school students who are not enrolled in a Ch. 74 CVTE program. The program is held from 2:30-5:15 PM weekdays at Worcester Technical High School, 1 Officer Manny Familia Way. Students typically attend twice a week. Students are admitted through the tiered lottery admissions process.

Innovation Career Pathways program listings for 2024-25:

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Allied Health

• Business, Finance and Marketing

• Construction & Related Engineering

• Computer Science

• Information Technology

• Biotechnology

Located at Worcester Technical High School at 1 Officer Manny Familia Way, Night Life hosts career technical education/workforce development programs in various trades (i.e. automotive, plumbing, construction), along with hobby courses (i.e. yoga, knitting, arts). Visit the Night Life website for information on courses and registration.