DANVERS — Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School District (Essex Tech) has received 1,746 applications for the upcoming school year, the largest applicant pool in the district’s history, for approximately 550–560 available seats.
Beginning with the 2025–26 admissions cycle, Essex Tech moved to a random, electronic lottery-based admissions process in alignment with updated Massachusetts DESE requirements for vocational schools when qualified applicants exceed available seats, ensuring equitable access for applicants from all 17 member communities.
The volume of applications reflects strong and growing interest in career and technical education, as students and families across Essex Tech’s sending communities and the surrounding region continue to seek hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities. Applicants can expect to hear the results of the lottery in February.
“We are humbled by the level of interest from students and families,” said Jill Sawyer, Executive Director of CTAE & Workforce Development at Essex Tech. “These numbers speak to the value families place on career and technical education and the pathways it provides for students’ futures.”
Essex Tech serves students from member communities across the North Shore, offering rigorous academics alongside technical and agricultural programs designed to prepare graduates for college, career, and life.
To learn more about Essex Tech’s admissions process and offerings, visit essexnorthshore.org/admissions.
