Ready to set Sail?
Questions? Email the admissions team at SoundSchoolAdmissions@gmail.com
We accept both digital hard copies of the state ASTE application. You can download a pdf using the links below. Please have your counselor email your completed application to: SoundSchoolAdmissions@gmail.com
• ASTE Common Application (PDF)
• Aplicación común de ASTE (PDF, Spanish)
• Formulário de Solicitação de Admissão de Aluno (PDF, Portuguese)
Completing the Application:
The application is standardized to all of CT’s Agriculture Science and Technology Programs. We recommend you complete your portion, bring it to your school counselor, and have them send us your completed application. Once a complete application is received, all applicants must also participate in an individual 5-10 minute (5 question) interview and parent information session to review program expectations.
Application Criteria:
All applications are evaluated by the following criteria using a standardized scoring system (The list is in order from highest to lowest in criterion).
- Demonstrated interest in a career in an agricultural or aquaculture related field.
- Personal meeting and/or interview with ASTE staff and/or school personnel.
- A personal essay written by the student
- Recommendations (Counselor, Teacher and Personal).
- Attendance record.
- Academic record.
- Behavioral record.
Application Timeline:
- We recruit at local middle schools throughout the months of September, October and November.
- Open House for Interested 8th Graders is October 24, 2024.
- Application deadline is DECEMBER 20, 2024.
- Interview sessions will be held in December and January.
- Applications received after December 20th will be reviewed and interviewed if there are more spots available.
We will accept and review completed applications until all 90 seats in the incoming freshmen class for the next school year are full. Once the class is full, student applicants who meet our minimum criteria will be placed on a waitlist. Students on the waitlist will be contacted when a seat opens up; this can happen at any time throughout the spring, summer up until the first weeks of school.
Admissions and Retention
(a) Applicants shall have successfully complete at least the eighth grade for ninth grade admission. (Students may apply for transfer into the program beyond ninth grade. Admittance shall be determined on an individual basis.)
(b) Applicants shall indicate an interest in agriculture as a career and shall agree to participate in a supervised, occupational experience program.
(c) The vocational agriculture staff shall have the responsibility to recommend students for acceptance into the vocational agriculture program.
(d) Any student denied admission to a program of vocational agriculture or who is about to be dismissed from such a program shall be given an opportunity to request an informal review of his/her case before a Review Committee at a Regional Vocational Agriculture Center. The Review Committee shall be composed of at least, but not limited to the following representation: a member of the vocational agriculture staff, an administrator from the school where the vocational agriculture program operates, a member of the operating board of education or their administrative representative, a member of the sending board of education or their administrative representative, and a member of the regional vocational agriculture consulting committee. Such student may make a request in writing, to the proper vocational agriculture center, addressed to the administrator responsible for such center, for a review of his or her case. Any such request shall be made within 15 days of such action. The said committee shall conduct such review within 20 days of receipt of such request. The committee through the operating board of education shall within 10 days of such review, notify in writing, the student, and the sending board of education of its decision. This decision shall be final and binding upon all parties. (CT Section 10-65-6)