Dear Grade 8 Families,

We are writing to remind you that current eighth-grade students can apply for the lottery for admission to Worcester Technical High School or a Chapter 74 career and vocational technical education (CVTE) program at Doherty, North, or South high schools beginning Monday, January 6.

The online application is open from January 6 until February 14.

Worcester Public Schools uses a tiered lottery admissions process for Chapter 74 programs. Unfortunately, for the past several years there have been waiting lists due to the district having fewer seats than needed for the number of applicants.

Admissions Timeline

January 6-February 14, 2025: Online applications accepted
Wednesday, March 12, 2025: Lottery held
Lottery results are shared with families immediately after the drawing and will be posted on the schools’ websites by Friday, March 14, 2025.

Difference Between Worcester Tech and Other High Schools

Worcester Technical High School, or “Worcester Tech,” is a full-scale vocational high school with 23 Chapter 74 CVTE programs. When students enter ninth grade, they first participate in the “Freshman Exploratory” program in which they spend time in various CVTE programs before choosing one major for the remaining four years.

Meanwhile, Doherty, North, and South are comprehensive high schools with a small number of Chapter 74 CVTE programs. For those schools, students apply to attend a specific CVTE program. If selected via lottery and accepted, the student is admitted to the school.

For a list of each school’s Chapter 74 CVTE programs or more details on the admissions process, please visit the Worcester Public Schools CVTE website.

Information Session

On Tuesday, January 14, from 6:00-7:00 PM, an information session will be held virtually on Zoom for current grade 8 students and families. Translation services will be available. A link is forthcoming and will be posted on the WPS website and shared on ParentSquare.

If you have any questions, please speak with guidance counselors or administrators at your child’s middle school or the high schools.

Sincerely,
Julieanne Gamache
Director of Career and Technical Education
Worcester Public Schools

Patricia Suomala, EdD
Director of Career and Technical Education
Worcester Technical High School

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