High School Options for Main South

Overview

Students in grades 9-12 who reside in Worcester’s Main South neighborhoods are assigned to either Claremont Academy (grades 7-12) or South High Community School (grades 9-12) based on their home address. In addition, students who live in the University Park neighborhood have the option to apply to the University Park Campus School (grades 7-12).

Grade 8 students in Claremont or UPCS may stay in those schools for grades 9-12, seek a transfer to South High based on their home address, or apply to a specialized or Chapter 74 career technical education program to gain admission to South, Burncoat High School, Doherty Memorial High School, North High School, or Worcester Technical High School.

Students may seek an alternative setting, such as Worcester Alternative School or the Gerald Creamer Center.

Students may also seek a Voluntary Transfer for admission into a different school that is not zoned to their home address; seats are allocated based on space or special circumstances.

Additionally, students may seek extended day programs, such as Innovation Career Pathways, which teach students career technical skills and meets from 2:00-5:00 PM at Worcester Technical High School.

Chapter 74 Career Technical Education

Chapter 74 Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, which include a range of programs — such as advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, programming and web development, health assisting, culinary arts, and many more — require students to go through a lottery admissions process.

  • Worcester Technical High School is a full career technical education school with 23 Chapter 74 programs. Students apply to the school and are selected through a randomized lottery process. Once admitted, ninth grade students spend the fall in a sample of different CTE programs before selecting one they stay in for four years.

  • Doherty Memorial High School has four Chapter 74 CTE programs: Engineering, Construction Craft Labor, Marketing, and Programming and Web Development. Students apply to one or more of these programs are selected through a randomized lottery process. Once a student accepts admission into a Chapter 74 program, they become a student at that school.

  • North High School has two Chapter 74 CTE programs; Health Assisting and Business Technology. Students apply to one or more of these programs are selected through a randomized lottery process. Once a student accepts admission into a Chapter 74 program, they become a student at that school.

  • South High Community School has three Chapter 74 CTE programs: Culinary Arts, Diesel Technology, and Early Childhood Education. Students apply to one or more of these programs are selected through a randomized lottery process. Once a student accepts admission into a Chapter 74 program, they become a student at that school.

The Chapter 74/CTE application timeline is as follows annually. Please view the CTE page of the website for updated annual dates.

  • November-February: Applications accepted

  • Mid-March: Lottery is held. Results are shared immediately with families via email and the Go2CTE platform; posted on the district website within two business days.

Specialized Programs

View more information on Specialized Programs, including:

  • Hanover Insurance Academy for the Arts at Burncoat High

  • Burncoat Arts Magnet

  • Advanced Science Academy at Doherty

  • Goddard Scholars Academy at Sullivan Middle and South High

High Schools