Swampscott Middle School Career Pathway

Exploratory Policy

Overview

Massachusetts state regulations (603 CMR 4.00) require sending districts to maintain a districtwide Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy that documents how middle school students in the district are made aware of, and gain exposure to, career technical education (CTE) schools and programs available to them in their district, regional, agricultural, and other public high schools.

Students who reside in Swampscott have the opportunity to pursue CTE programming at:

• SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL 

The town’s public high school, located in Swampscott, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s  (DESE) “Innovation Pathways" are programs of study at Swampscott High School that are designed to prepare high school students for careers in industries that all have high demand for young skilled workers.

Swampscott High School offers two Innovation Pathway programs, with a third coming in Fall 2026:

• ADVANCED MANUFACTURING (Launched in 2021)
• BUSINESS & FINANCE (Launched in 2023)
• DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS AND DESIGN (Beginning Fall 2026)

• ENSATS “AFTER-DARK” PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Swampscott’s partnership in the Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School (ENSATS) After Dark program began in 2021. Juniors and Seniors may participate in our partnership program with ENSATS. This two-year program provides students an opportunity to study:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Construction Craft Labor
• Health Assisting
• Sustainable Horticulture

Swampscott Partnership students complete their core academic courses in the morning at SHS and then travel to ENSATS for afternoon coursework in their chosen area of study.

• ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL 

A regional vocational-technical high school located in Danvers, Massachusetts. There is an application process interested students must go through to be accepted.

• Career Technical Education: CTE Programs: Advanced Manufacturing Technology , Animal Science , Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing, Automotive Technology, Biotechnology, Carpentry, Construction Craft Laborer, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Design & Visual Communications, Early Education and Care, Electricity, Engineering Technology, Environmental Science & Technology, Graphic Communications, Health Assisting, Heating - Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Horticulture, Information Support Services & Networking, Marketing, Masonry & Tile Setting, Metal Fabrication, and Plumbing

At Swampscott Middle School, the Career Pathway Exploratory Policy is designed to support student awareness of their high school options and prepare them for future academic and career opportunities. At Swampscott Middle School, students begin exploring future career and education options as part of their electives beginning in grade 5. Students have the opportunity to participate in both Robotics and Engineering courses each year from grades 5-8.

Policy

Swampscott Middle School, as part of the Swampscott Public Schools district, collaborates with Swampscott High School and Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School (ENSATS) to ensure students and families are fully informed about available Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities. This collaboration includes sharing admissions information, highlighting program offerings, and providing students with opportunities to interact with staff and students from both schools.

1. Statement of Goals

The Swampscott Public Schools district is committed to preparing Swampscott Middle School students for informed high school, postsecondary, and career decisions. This is a multi-year process that intentionally guides students in the development of an authentic secondary plan for success

The goals of this policy include:

1. Equitable Access: Provide all students in grades 5–8 with the opportunity to explore career options through self-identified interests, strengths, and skills. This will deepen student awareness of available high school CTE pathways and prepare them for informed decisions about future college and career planning.
2. Family and Student Awareness – Ensure that all students and families are fully informed about in-district, regional, and agricultural CTE options available to them.
3. Student Exploration – Provide students with the opportunity to explore career-connected coursework through two SMS Elective Courses: Robotics and Engineering and Design. These courses expose students to a wide range of fields and hands-on experiences, fostering career awareness and exploration.
4. Hands-On Career Experiences – Provide students with a variety of experiences which may include but not limited to learning-by-doing activities, school tours, guest speakers, self discovery assessments, and field trips. These experiences will expand student awareness of occupational fields and career planning pathways.
5. Career Connected – Promote career-connected learning that links middle school experiences to secondary success and long-term planning, helping students achieve their academic goals and lifelong success.

2. Career Exploration Courses

Swampscott Middle School, is committed to ensuring that every middle school student is aware of and has equitable access to the CTE pathways offered at SHS and ENSATS. Students engage in Elective classes across all grade levels (5-8) that build self-awareness, support career exploration, and encourage goal setting for secondary and postsecondary success. These courses provide hands-on learning experiences and exposure to a variety of career fields. Through these opportunities, students are empowered to make informed decisions about high school course selections and long-term goals.

1. Elective Courses

Robotics

Engineering and Design

• Students engage in career exploration through hands-on activities connected to a variety of industries
• Coursework introduces some career competency based skills and workplace expectations to spark student interest and self-discovery.
• Students have opportunities to hear from career guest speakers and participate in career awareness activities that highlight real-world pathways

3. Collaboration with CTE Schools

The Swampscott Public School District ensures collaboration between Swampscott Middle School and:

1. Swampscott High School
2. Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School

The goal of this collaboration is to ensure that all Swampscott Middle school students and their families can make informed decisions about high school pathway

1. Informational Sessions: SHS and ENSATS are each offered the opportunity to host a minimum of one scheduled informational session at Swampscott Middle School. Sessions are coordinated through SMS Guidance.

2. Application Information Sharing: Swampscott Middle School will distribute SHS and ENSATS application information and admissions processes to all 8th-grade students and families.

4. Secondary School CTE Access

Swampscott Middle School students are provided with opportunities to tour CTE programs at:

1. Swampscott High School
2. Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School

1. Open House: Open houses are valuable opportunities for students and families to explore secondary school options. They provide the chance to tour facilities, meet current students and staff, ask questions, and learn about available programs.

Providing records to CTE Schools and programs

Swampscott Middle School ensures that student information is shared with Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools  in a way that is transparent, and compliant with  DESE guidelines. The process is designed to keep families informed, protect student privacy, and support a smooth admission process it includes:

1. Sharing Student Records: Secondary CTE schools may request mailing addresses and home language information for students in grade 8 to distribute event and admissions information directly to families.

Guidance Counselors provide families with an opt-out form for those who do not wish to share their student’s information. Only students whose families have not opted out will have their information shared.

2. Family Notification: Secondary CTE schools providing information to families must do so in the district’s recorded primary family languages. This ensures all families are able to access admissions and event information in a language they understand.

Maintenance of Records

Swampscott Public Schools will maintain thorough documentation of all on-site CTE  information sessions.

Electronic records will be maintained within the Swampscott Middle School Guidance Department and will include dates of information sessions, student participation in tours/dates, the distribution of  student contact information to secondary CTE schools, and relevant collaboration with secondary CTE programs and districts.