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Starting the Application Process

Families interested in applying to SST will always have help and assistance throughout the process.  Interested families can contact Guidance Counselor Amy Dow at 781-499-7440 or adow@ssvotech.org  for more information.

What is the first step we should take to apply for admission to SST?

Any interested student should have his/her parent/guardian submit an application. Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button above or go to: Apply to South Shore Technical.

After I apply online, when would we hear next from SST?  

There are 2 steps to the Application process.  After completing the pre-registration, your submission will be reviewed by a member of our Admissions team.  This could take up to one business day.  Once your submission has been approved you will receive a follow-up email outlining your next steps.  Once the second part of the application has been completed, SST will ask your current school for records from your current and previous year of schooling (so for students seeking to enroll as 9th graders, this would mean your 7th and 8th grade records).

What ‘records’ are you looking for from my child’s current school?

We request two years of report cards, attendance reports, and discipline reports.  For students who apply for 9th grade admission, this includes the end of year reports from grade 7, and the most recent report card or progress report for grade 8. Here is a complete list of documents we request:

How will we know if the application is incomplete?

We will notify parents and the sending school guidance counselor if something is missing. Incomplete applications are kept on file until October 1 of the following academic year and acted upon when the file is complete.

Do parents choose who provides the sending school recommendations? 

Our Admissions Counselor will work with your child's middle school to obtain the recommendation.

Is there anything that a parent can do to expedite the process?

Staying in touch with your child’s guidance counselor at their current school would be helpful.  SST will do the same.  The key is to get all of the documentation for a completed application so it can be scored.  We cannot offer admission to a student with an incomplete application.

Selection Criteria/Scoring the Application

How is the application scored?

For the most current information on the application process we will provide direct links to each relative sub-section in our official policy manual.

For reference purposes the below sub-sections are part of: Admissions Policy, File JFAA

Click the related topic below to take you directly to the specific section in our policy manual.

• Section 6: Application Process, Requirements and Timelines
• Section 7: Selection Criteria
• Section 8: Process for Offering Admission
• Section 9: Waiting List

Does special education status play a role in admissions?

After your child is accepted, we will reach out to their middle school to get records. This includes IEP's & 504's.

What if my child is home schooled?  How will such an application be scored?

Our admissions policy, which can be found here, addresses this topic.  Home-schooled students would apply initially as any other prospective student and be interviewed.   There are requirements involving a portfolio of recent student work and letters of recommendation.  If the child was enrolled in a school at any point in the two years prior to applying, we would request those records as part of the application process.

Selection Process & Timelines

When is the earliest that my child would be notified of acceptance?

We score applications after January 1st to allow for updated 8th grade report cards or progress reports to be provided.  First round admissions are made in early February.  

How do you determine whom to admit first?

We take all of the student application scores by town and rank order them highest to lowest.  In the first two rounds of admissions in February and March, we offer admission to all eligible students from each in-district town up to the quota limit for each town.  

The South Shore Regional School District (“in-district”) includes Abington, Cohasset, Hanson, Hanover, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate and Whitman.  (See the section on Non-Resident Students for additional information for applicants who reside outside the district.)

What does ‘eligible’ mean?

An eligible student is identified as a student who has a completed application and who meets admissions criteria.

What is a ‘quota’ limit?  How is it determined?

A quota is the number of open seats that are assigned to a town for an incoming 9th grade class for the first two rounds of admissions.  Once the district determines how many total 9th grade seats will be available, each town is given their share of the seats based on the size of the town’s 8th grade class.  To illustrate:

1. Assume there are 1,000 8th graders in total after adding up ALL of the 8th graders in all eight towns in the South Shore Regional School District.
2. Assume that SSVT has openings for 150 9th graders.
3. Town X has 100 8th graders or 10% of 1,000 (the total enrollment in #1).
4. Therefore, town X will have 15 quota seats (10% of 150 = 15).  

So the top 15 eligible students from Town X who have an application score of 60 or above would be accepted in rounds 1-2 of the admissions process.

After two rounds of admissions, in some towns, we typically have unused quota seats, and in other towns, we have more applicants than available quota seats. Starting in the third round, we pool the unfilled seats and merge the application scores of all remaining students.  We then accept the next highest students on the merged list, wait for responses, and continue with the admissions process through June. We also consider out-of-district applicants at this time.

What if my child did not get accepted in rounds 1 or 2?

Our suggestion is always to contact us if you have questions about your child’s status. There are still several more admissions rounds, so it is premature to worry.  After two rounds of admissions, we give the accepted students 10 school days to confirm they will be attending, then we continue with the admissions process.  Starting in the third round, we pool the unfilled seats and merge the application scores of all remaining students.  We then accept the next highest students on the merged list, wait for responses, and continue with the admissions process through June.

If your child has an application score of under 50 points, she/he will be placed on a no decision list to allow for extra time to submit updated documentation.  A decision is made before the end of the admissions process, typically by June.

When do you accept students using available spots from other towns?  When do you accept non-resident students?

Students who wish to come to SST from a town that has more eligible students than quota seats will be offered admission starting in the third round.  Non-resident students will not be offered admission any earlier than the third round, after we have offered admission to all eligible in-district students with application scores of 60 or above.

My Child’s Admissions Status

My child’s friends were accepted and she/he did not hear anything.  What do I tell her/him?

Parents are more than welcome to contact our Guidance Office for an update on the process at any time.  We do not want it to be a mystery.  

In February we offer our first round of admissions, and this is a process we repeat each month through the rest of the school year.  Some students will be admitted in later rounds.  We allow for some time in between rounds to give families the time to make a decision, which helps us determine how many available seats there are for future acceptance offers.  See the section on Admissions Process and Timelines for more information.

My child was accepted early in the admissions process. Does this mean that my child can coast for the rest of his/her school year at his/her current school?

Absolutely not!  All acceptances are conditional on students passing all classes and being promoted to the next grade!  If your child sees an early acceptance as a sign of taking it easy, please show them this answer!  They will be in for a rude awakening in grade 9 in a high school that emphasizes the importance of work ethics.  We don’t want to rescind an admissions offer in June because someone failed classes late in the school year!

You notified me that my child is on the ‘waiting list.’  What does this mean?

A waiting list is created at the end of the admissions process in June, after the 9th grade class has been filled.  The list is maintained in rank order by application score and it includes all eligible students who have completed, scored applications. Please note: SST will be requesting updated report card information.

Can a student be admitted after the school year has started?

Yes. While this is not a common occurrence, if an opening arises we work with the sending school to arrange for the transfer.  Oftentimes, the limitation has to do with open space in a vocational program.

Admissions for Grades 10 and above

Is there anything different in the admissions process for someone entering SSVT in Grade 10 or above?

The standards, scoring and paperwork are the same.  We would ask for the two most recent years of grades, attendance and discipline reports, so for an incoming 10th grader, for instance, this would mean asking for grade 8 and 9 records. The timing of admissions may vary, depending on the vocational program the applicant is seeking.  Oftentimes we need to wait until the end of the school year to see if spots open up in the program.  However, if the applicant seeks a program for which there is space, we can admit the applicant more quickly.

If my child enrolls in grade 10 or above, will she/he explore eight programs like incoming freshmen?

No.  The admission of upperclassmen is based on available space in a program.

For More Information

Whom should I contact if I have questions about the admissions process?

If you are thinking about applying to SSVT or are already in the admissions process, you can contact Guidance Counselor Amy Dow at 781-499-7440 or adow@ssvotech.org. If you have questions about an admissions decision, please contact Principal Mark Aubrey at 781-878-8822 x410 or maubrey@ssvotech.org.

Where can I find a copy of the district admissions policy?  

Our Admissions policy is found here: Online Policy Manual Section JFA