By Caroline Lanni
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FRAMINGHAM – The Keefe Technical School Committee discussed admissions and enrollment data for the incoming freshman class, at its meeting on Monday, March 8.
“Even in a very unusual year where we have had mostly remote learning, we have generated what I believe to be a record number of applications from eighth graders in the district,” said Keefe Technical Superintendent Jonathan Evans Monday night.
There are more than 400 applications for the ninth grade class for 2021-2022.
“That is an incredible number,” said Evans.
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According to Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), as of October 1, 2020, there were 175 seniors and 225 freshman for the class of 2020-21.
The Keefe Technical Guidance Department has done a “wonderful job” with having that line of communication open for the middle schools, said Evans.
Keefe Technical is a regional vocational high school in Framingham for grades 9-12. Students from Framingham, Ashland, Natick, Holliston, and Hopkinton apply to attend. A majority of the students are from the City of Framingham.
The school also allowed families to apply online admission.
“We are prepared to offer acceptance in the very near future to a number of students and like last year it appears we will have a capacity-based waiting list, but we are looking to accept as many students as we possibly can,” said Evans.
If families or students do not accept their offer of admissions they will go to the list and try to get other students in the school, said Evans.
“Though, the interest has been very strong,” said Evans.
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This [interest] is due to the efforts of our Guidance Department. It is also focused on the work the students achieve every day, the experience of the students, their outcomes the students achieve, and the experience their staff provides the students, he added.
“That is what drives the interest of our district, and I am really proud of the results that have taken place.
Overall student enrollment for this school year increased by 2.1% said Evans.
“We have gone from 795 to 812 in-district students which is an increase in 17 students or 2.1%,” said Evans.
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Superintendent Evans also discussed school choice with the School Committee on Monday night.
Historically, Evans has given his recommendation “that School Choice is not a way to go for this district.”
Evans said, “I think that [School Choice] is even more true if that is possible in a year where we are over capacity with our in-district student population. … The prospect of having students be able to join our district from outside of our
region for a $5,000 assessment while our in-district students are paying substantially more in a time when we don’t have room, so I think it is a pretty easy look to say that it might not be in our best interest.”
Evans said they are following their practice to give the Committee a month of consideration and provided a memo with his thoughts on not becoming a School Choice.
Next School Committee meeting is scheduled for April 12.
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Caroline Lanni is a 2021 spring SOURCE intern. Lanni is a senior communications major with a minor in journalism at Framingham State University. She wants to pursue a media career in broadcast journalism. She is a member of the dance team at Framingham State.
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