Assabet Informational Page

December 17, 2023

Dear Grade 8 Families,

I am writing to provide information to Grade 8 families with students who may be interested in attending a vocational technical high school for Grade 9.

As you may know, because of a change in state regulations that went into effect two years ago, the admissions process for vocational technical high schools now results in almost all seats going to students who live within their member district communities. Because the Town of Shrewsbury does not belong to the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s member communities, our students are considered “non-resident” students. Unfortunately, because of the changes in regulations, we again expect that there will be very few seats – and possibly no seats – for Shrewsbury students at Assabet or other vocational/technical high schools next year. Two years ago, only two Shrewsbury students were able to access Assabet for Grade 9 through its lottery system, and this past year there were none.

Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that your child will be able to attend Assabet or another vocational/technical high school due to the changes in admissions made at the state level. However, If you want your child to have any chance for a seat at Assabet, we encourage families who want to potentially have their child attend Assabet to apply by their priority deadline of January 15, as a very small number of seats may open up in late spring or over the summer that Shrewsbury students may be able to access from the non-resident waiting list lottery. Please see the information at the bottom of this message for instructions regarding how to apply to Assabet.

I am truly sorry that these state regulations now make it very difficult for Shrewsbury students who are interested in a vocational technical high school to enroll in one. Our Shrewsbury School Committee and Select Board reached out to the Assabet School Committee last year to see about becoming a member community, but Assabet was not open to that idea. While we cannot possibly replicate the kind of intensive programming found in a vocational technical high school at Shrewsbury High School, please know that if your child ultimately attends SHS they will benefit from ongoing work we are doing to provide additional options for students to take part in vocational and technical learning experiences, through coursework, job shadowing, internships, course credit for outside employment, etc. You can find information about increased career technical education experiences that was presented to the School Committee this past November both HERE and HERE. We know that this is something many families want for their students, and we want to provide these kinds of experiences for those who would have otherwise attended Assabet.

Respectfully,

Joe Sawyer

Superintendent of Schools

Vocational Technical High School Admissions Information:

• Assabet admissions information is found here.

• Click here to apply online to Assabet by the deadline of January 15. Or, click here to get links to download a paper application in English, Portuguese, or Spanish (or to print the recommendation form which is part of the paper application). Because Shrewsbury is not part of the Assabet “district,” if you apply you must also download and complete the “Chapter 74 Form” located here and submit it as well.

• If you have questions about the application, please email Assabet Admissions Director, Lauren Gonzalez, at lgonzalez@assabet.org or 508-485-9430 Ext.1250.

• It is important that you know that under the law, our district would pay for both the tuition and bus transportation for any student who attends a vocational technical high school, regardless of which one. Students may apply to multiple vocational technical high schools. Because of the new rules, some families applied to vocational technical high schools other than Assabet, but were generally not successful finding seats or did not want to travel a long distance to other schools.

• If you choose to have your child apply to Assabet or any other vocational technical high school, please notify your child’s adjustment counselor at Oak by sending an email to oakcounselor@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us. Please email that address or call Oak at 508-841-1200 and ask to speak to an adjustment counselor if you have questions or need additional assistance.

FAQ to help our students and families understand this new system

Can a Shrewsbury Public Schools student apply to Assabet?

Yes. Any grade eight student that is a resident of Shrewsbury can apply to Assabet Valley Technical High School. It is important to note that although Shrewsbury students can apply to Assabet, Shrewsbury students are considered non-resident students.

What does “meeting the minimum requirements” actually mean?

In order to meet Assabet’s admission requirements, all applicants must complete some basic steps which are outlined below. Once all these steps are completed, applicants will be randomly assigned a number and entered into Assabet’s lottery system. The steps needed to complete the application process are:

The student must complete and submit an application to Assabet by January 15, 2024. Links to the new applications are below:
- The online application: Click HERE
The student must submit a completed recommendation form to Assabet by January 15, 2024. This recommendation can be completed by anyone who knows the applicant (coach, teacher, counselor, family member, etc…). The new recommendation form is attached to the above application forms. Simply click on the link and scroll to the last page of the application.
The applicant must attend an interview with an admissions representative in February or March.

Are grades, discipline, and attendance still used as part of Assabet’s admission process?

No. Grades, discipline, and attendance are no longer considered part of the application process. However, any accepted student must meet the requirements for promotion to the next grade level.

How does the lottery system work?

Qualified in-district applicants are assigned a random number.
In April 2024, the lottery numbers will be pulled and those applicants will be notified.
Seats will be offered to 300 in-district applicants whose lottery numbers were chosen at random.
An in-district waitlist will be created for those students who applied but whose names were not chosen.
A non-resident waitlist will be created and used if seats remain after the in-district lottery and in-district waitlist is exhausted.

My child wants to apply to Assabet. How can I get my child’s application to Assabet?

The easiest way to apply is directly through the Assabet website (the link is provided above). Parents can also fax, email, or personally deliver the application to Assabet. There is an application dropbox outside the main doors at Assabet. Students can also drop off their completed applications in the main office at Oak and it will be sent to Assabet on their behalf prior to the application deadline.

How can my child access more information about Assabet’s programming?

Students are encouraged to check out more information on programming and the application process at: https://www.assabet.org/

Is there someone at school who can help my child through the application process?

Yes. Students who have questions, concerns, or just want to talk through their thinking around applying to Assabet can make an appointment by e-mailing oakcounselor@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.