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The new, state-mandated lottery system replaces the former interview-based admission process. DANVERS, MA — Students across the North Shore looking to attend Essex Tech will now pin their hopes on a lottery-based admissions system after the school agreed to switch from a long-standing interview-based process under a new state mandate aimed at providing more equitable access to career technical and agricultural programs across the Commonwealth. The "random, electronic lottery" will be in effect for perspective students across the school's 17 member communities. The shift is part of updated regulations, which now require vocational schools like Essex Tech to adopt a lottery process when the number of qualified applicants exceeds available seats. How MA Education Board Vote Changes North Shore CTE School Admissions Essex Tech Superintendent Rejects MA 'Lottery' Admissions Proposal Danvers Delays Vote On Capping Share Of Essex Tech Enrollment "We are committed to maintaining an admissions process that reflects both state requirements and the communities we serve," Essex Tech Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. "We will work with our school committee to determine seat allocation that reflects our current student body and gives access to all those who desire an agricultural and technical education." The Massachusetts Board of Education in May voted to support a "weighted lottery" admission system for career technical high schools designed to create a compromise among the schools that embraced the interview selection process and those who say that process is selective and inherently discriminatory, after months of contentious debate. Under the weighted system, students are chosen by lottery, but factors such as good attendance, no significant disciplinary history, and interest in pursuing vocational careers could enhance the student's odds of being chosen for a seat based on the district's discretion. Riccio told Patch prior to the 8-2-1 Board of Education vote that she opposed the change because "our (interview-based) admissions process is designed to get to know each student and determine who is truly ready to thrive in a career technical and agricultural education environment." "A lottery removed that human connection — and misses the point entirely." But Salem Public Schools Superintendent Steve Zrike told Patch in an interview prior to the vote that the interview process essentially makes the public CTE schools "select enrollment schools" and that data shows that the demographics of students in Salem who attend Essex North Shore do not match the demographics in the larger school population." "That's concerning," he said. "Public school districts, and traditional high schools like ours, have to establish systems that support all students who come here. It's our responsibility to serve everybody who comes to our school, and I think that's the responsibility of anybody, including vocational schools. "They have plenty of resources to do that." Zrike told Patch after the vote that the weighted lottery "is a step in the right direction and I applaud the Board for taking this initial step." As part of the weighted lottery system approved, only discipline and attendance issues in seventh grade or later can be considered as part of the added chance of being selected. "Our goal is to make sure every family understands how this new system works and feels confident in the process," said Essex Tech Director of School Counseling and Admissions Sandra Goldstein. "We believe fair access begins with clear communication and consistent support. "Our team is here to help families every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition to this new admissions process for all applicants." Riccio told Patch that her school received 1,127 applications for the incoming freshman class last spring, with 497 students admitted and 536 placed on a waitlist. She said none of the applicants lost points due to disciplinary infractions, challenging narratives that vocational schools exclude students based on behavior, and that expanding technical education schools' capacities was ultimately the best way to solve the increasing seat-crunch issue. "At its core, this debate shouldn't be about how we choose among students — it should be about why we don't have more seats to meet the demand," Riccio said. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
