Technical Program Placement

Freshmen students participate in an exploratory program that allows them to explore 14 distinct
career areas from September to April of the freshman year. Upon the completion of the
exploratory program, students are asked to rank order their career choices from their
exploratory experience. During the course of the exploratory program, instructors rank students
in accordance with a structured rating sheet that is used to rate performance in both the
vocational area as well as in related theory classes.  

During the week students are in shop, they are evaluated on the following five areas:  
1. Ability to follow instructions—written and verbal;  
2. Completes assignments as directed and in a timely manner;  
3. Shop behavior—attitude, cooperation with peers and teachers;  
4. Respect for tools and equipment and safety;  
5. Quality and completeness of work Students receive a maximum of ten points in each
category.  

Evaluation of the related theory component of exploratory is comprised of the following five
components:  
1. Academic foundation—ability to grasp concepts;  
2. Completeness of class assignments and homework;  
3. Class behavior;  
4. Interest in vocational-technical area;  
5. Performance on weekly tests.  

Students can receive a maximum of ten points in each criterion. Taken together a student can
earn a maximum of 100 points during the exploratory cycle with a perfect score in each area.
These rating sheets are kept in the student’s folder.  
Program choices are awarded based on overall exploratory average as determined by the point
total they receive in all exploratory shops and space available. If more students select a
program major than there are spaces available, students will be rank ordered by exploratory
average.
 
Upper class students entering the 10th or 11th grade will have the opportunity to “shadow” in one or more vocational-technical programs prior to making a decision regarding program selection
among those with space available. Students will be evaluated and graded by each vocational-
technical instructor during the “shadowing” period in the same manner as freshman exploratory
students in the above paragraph.  If the number of these upper class students seeking a
particular shop exceeds the space available within the program in which an upper class student
is interested, he/she will be placed on a waiting list for space as it becomes available.  
 
Students who wish to transfer from one shop to another during the school year may request to
be placed on the waiting list of their preferred shop. Transfer requests are considered on a
space available basis and in accordance with the rating the student received in that particular
program during their exploratory or shadowing experience. Each transfer student will be
interviewed and counseled individually to determine the appropriateness of the transfer.