Admissions Process: 

1. Attend a CTE presentation or tabling session (not required)

CTE partners with local high schools to present about the technical center, its offerings, and the great opportunities awaiting students who attend! Check with your school counselor or your school’s landing page on CTE’s website presentation and visit information!

2. VISIT: Students interested in attending CTE must visit the program(s) prior to submitting an application. High school students are encouraged to make visit arrangements through their high school counseling office (visit sign up form, permission forms, etc.)

Parents, guardians, students, and families are encouraged to attend CTE's annual open house events as well! Open house counts as a visit day for CTE’s application.

3. APPLY: Submit a complete application* to CTE. Applications are accepted beginning January 2 for the following school year; the CTE application priority deadline is the first Friday in March. (Applications received after this date are considered on a space-available basis). 

* A complete application includes:

• High school academic transcript including most recent semester 

  • 10-12th applicants must meet a minimum of 10 credits/have reached the midpoint in their high school graduation proficiencies by the end of their sophomore year

  • 9th grade applicants must have achieved five core credits by the end of the school year (English, Math, Science, Social Studies/History, and one Additional credit)

• High school attendance & discipline records: Must have acceptable attendance history (no more than 10 days a semester unless there are extenuating circumstances) & appropriate school behavior. 

• Must be 16 years old by the time of enrollment to attend any of our programs, with the exception of pre-tech

4. STEP-UP DAY:  After the admissions team reviews the applications, qualified applicants meeting the initial entry criteria (i.e., attendance, discipline, and credits) are invited to attend Step-Up Day at CTE. This is held in March / April and is an important next step to determine the appropriateness of the program for the applicant. 

Step Up Day 2026: March 19th!

Important Reminders for Prospective Students:

• Treat Step Up Day as if it’s a job interview. 

• Students are expected to be on their best professional behavior. 

• Students will spend the whole day in their prospective program at CTE. 

• Students will spend time getting to know the program teacher, the classroom space, and participating in a variety of academic, applied, and program specific activities. 

• Step Up Day must be attended to be considered for acceptance.  

• Admissions are competitive at CTE – Being invited to Step Up Day is not an automatic acceptance to CTE. 

• The admissions process also takes into account attendance records, disciplinary records, and transcript/credits.

5. DECISION: Admissions decisions will be made in March/April and forwarded to sending schools and sent to the applicant. Once the class size is reached and the program is full, additional qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.

A student not accepted to CTE may re-apply the following year. These students will be advised as to how they can prepare for a future successful application.

Probationary Standing:
All students enter CTE on a probationary status for ten CTE school days. During this timeframe, a student’s willingness to embrace the CTE code of behavior and to develop workplace readiness skills is assessed.

Continued Probationary Standing may be recommended if a student shows promise but needs more time for assessment. The sending school guidance counselor is notified if a student is being considered for extended probation.

Students enrolled after the tenth school day will be placed on probationary status until the end of the first grade report.

Appeal: Students not accepted to CTE may appeal the decision to the Technical Center Director.

The Center for Technology, Essex does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or age in its programs or activities.

Have an Application related question? Email us at:

CTEAdmissions@ewsd.org

Required Application Materials:

Visit & Complete an application (link below)
Transcript that includes current year progress
Attendance Records
Discipline Records 

CTE Admission Committee may include:

CTE School Counselors
CTE Program Instructors
Student Services
CTE Director or Assistant Director
Adult Services Coordinator (when appropriate)