High School Application Information

Students who are interested in learning about trades and careers.

• Any eighth-grade student who is a resident of the State of Connecticut who expects to successfully complete eighth grade is eligible to apply for fall admission to ninth grade.

• Any Connecticut student currently in ninth grade who expects to earn at least 7 academic credits by the end of the school year may apply to transfer to a CTECS technical high school. Admission depends on available space at the school and in the student's preferred trade program. Applying does not guarantee admission. Students entering tenth grade may need to complete additional coursework to catch up on trade skills taught in ninth grade. Students curently in ninth grade may apply to:

  • Ninth grade: Transfer during the current school year.

  • Tenth grade: Transfer at the start of the next school year.

• Grade 10 or 11 students can apply to Bristol Technical Education Center, located in Bristol, CT, for a 1 or 2-year trade-only program. Academics are completed at the student’s sending high school. Grade 10 or 11 students can also apply to the Guest Services Management program at Grasso Technical High School, located in Groton, CT.

1. Review the website of the school you want to apply for.

   • Confirm you are in their regional area and are eligible for free bus transportation to the CTECS school. You can do this by calling your sending town’s school transportation department.

2. Review the trade(s) you are interested in and learn about them, including course descriptions and prospective jobs. Be sure the trade you are interested in is offered at the school you are applying to by reviewing the program locations.

3. Let your school counselor (if none, another school official) know you are going to apply.

   • If you are offered acceptance, they will receive an email from the CTECS school district requesting information.
   • You will need their correct email address to enter into the application.

4. Once you complete your application, you must hit “submit” or your application will not be considered.

• October 1: All waitlists expire from the year before.
• November 15: Application portal opens on the CTECS Admissions website (does not apply to RSCO schools – Cheney Tech, Goodwin Tech, Prince Tech. See note below).
• January 25: Final day for rising 9th-grade students to submit applications for lottery consideration.
• February 1: Families are notified of placement or waitlist status.
• February 20: Deadline for parents to accept or decline offered placements.
• May 15: Last round of placement offers sent to families.
• August 1: Placement notifications sent for any remaining open seats.
• August 10: Final deadline for parents to accept or decline placement.

*RSCO schools follow a separate application timeline and process. Visit chooseyourschool.org for information and to apply.

Placement Process: CTECS Rising 9th Grade (does not apply to RSCO Schools – Cheney, Goodwin, Prince)

1. Application Deadline
   Applications must be submitted by January 25, to be considered on-time.

   Late application: Applications submitted after January 25 will be added to the end of the waitlist at the applicant’s preferred school. No new rising 9th-grade applications will be accepted after March 1.

   Completion Requirements: All application requirements must be met for the application to be processed. Applications that do not meet the stated requirements will be deemed incomplete and removed from the applicant pool, making them ineligible for placement in a CTECS school. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all requirements are met.

2. Placement Assignments
   CTECS uses a computer-based lottery system to ensure an unbiased, randomized selection process. Using this method for seating students allows CTECS to comply with all state and federal regulations, removes all subjectivity, and aligns with all Connecticut State Department of Education public school choice practices.

   • Capacity Limits: Each school has a set capacity that cannot be exceeded. Submission of an application does not guarantee a placement offer.
   • Placement Priorities: Certain priorities may increase the chances of receiving an offer at the preferred school but do not guarantee placement. These priorities apply only to the preferred school and include:
     • Applications submitted by the on-time deadline
     • Enrolled siblings: A sibling currently attending the preferred school
     • Placed siblings: A sibling accepted for placement at the preferred school
     • Employee/staff connections: Children of preferred school employees or staff

3. Placement Notifications
   Applicants will be notified of placement decisions via email by February 1.

   • Accepting or Declining Placement: Applicants will have 14 days to accept or decline placement offers. Responses must be submitted using the selection buttons in the notification email.
   • Impact of Accepting or Declining: Accepting or declining a placement offer means you will no longer be considered for any other CTECS schools for the 2027-28 school year.
   • Applicants Not Offered Placement: Those not offered placement in the February 1 initial placement notification will automatically be added to the waitlist in the order determined by the lottery.

4. Waitlist Process

   • Applicants not placed in their preferred school will automatically be added to a waitlist.
   • Families will be notified by email if their child’s application has been placed on a waitlist. Updates regarding available seats will also be communicated by email as space becomes available.

We understand that waiting for a placement can be stressful, so we want to explain how the CTECS waitlist works and what you can expect. If your child did not receive an offer, don’t worry—there is still a chance for them to receive an offer at a later date. Here’s what you need to know:

What Happens Next?

If your child was not accepted in the lottery, your child’s application will be placed on a waitlist in the order determined by the lottery. Families will be notified by email if their child’s application has been placed on a waitlist. Updates regarding available seats will also be communicated by email as space becomes available. Applicants on the waitlist will be assigned a “waitlist indicator” that shows their chance of getting an offer. This indicator will tell you the likelihood of your child receiving an offer:

Waitlist Indicators

• Good Chance of an Offer – Green – Top of the Waitlist
  • What It Means: Your child is near the top of the waitlist and has a strong chance of receiving an offer if a spot opens up.
  • What You Should Do: If you’re still interested, you don’t need to do anything. We will notify you if a spot becomes available. If you’re no longer interested, please let CTECS know so we can remove your child from the waitlist.
• Offer Unlikely – Yellow – Middle of the Waitlist
  • What It Means: Your child is in the middle of the waitlist, meaning several students are ahead of them. While an offer is unlikely, there is still a chance if spots open up later. Sometimes this happens in the summer.
  • What You Should Do: If you’re still interested, no action is needed. We will notify you if a spot becomes available. If you’re no longer interested, please inform CTECS.
• Offer Very Unlikely – Red – Bottom of the Waitlist
  • What It Means: Many students are ahead of your child on the waitlist, making it very unlikely they will receive an offer.
  • What You Should Do: Start considering other school options for your child.

Other Important Information

• The number of students on the waitlist varies by school and available spots.
• Due to the volume of requests received and the frequency with which the waitlist changes, we are unable to provide families the exact number their child is on the waitlist.
• Waitlists expire on October 1 each year. If your child does not receive an offer by then, you may submit a new transfer application for the next school year.

• Visit our admissions and enrollment FAQ section.