Recently, the Hammonton Gazette ran a front page story about the annual School Choice lottery that is held for Hammonton Public School District.  Along with the story ran a picture of Assistant Superintendent Robin Chieco selecting the names of those students from outside districts who could attend Hammonton schools through this program.

The program, formally known as the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, was introduced at the state level six years ago, allows students to attend certain schools outside of their district through an application process at no additional cost to the parent or guardian. The New Jersey Department of Education website claims that there are 136 participating in the 2014-15 school year.

Many factors make Hammonton High School a desirable school for students outside the district.  One selling point is its Technology Program to Success, allows the students to take a variety of skill-based technology and arts-related courses.  Classes include  CP Web Design & Internet Research, CP Multimedia / 3D Animation, CP Web Design and Development, and TV Media Productions, among others.

To apply to a participating district, parents  submit an application that includes basic information about the student, the name of the school they currently attend and the name of the choice school they are applying to, a 500 word essay written by the student about their interest in technology, and the students most recent NJASK scores.

Junior Alexis Lawless Gattone,  junior Amber Bizup, sophomore Steven Costa, and junior Jake Zolda transferred to Hammonton their freshman year through the choice program.  All commented that they have had a very positive experience.

“It’s been a great experience that’s allowed me to meet a lot of new people and I’m glad I had the opportunity,” said Lawless Gattone.

Transferring to Hammonton through the choice program has had both pros and cons for the choice students.   Of the four students interviewed, all agreed that the biggest pro is having the chance to meet new people as well as having more opportunities.

However, the move was not without its challenges.

“The biggest con is that all of the new friends I’ve made here live pretty far away from my hometown,” Lawless Gattone said.

Bizup and Zolda both shared that transportation can be difficult to and from school.

“Hammonton is pretty far from my hometown,” Bizup said. “I do a lot of extra curricular activities in addition to doing track and field hockey so transportation can be a bit of a hassle.”

The program, first piloted in the state under the leadership of Governor Christie Whitman, was signed into law in 2010 by Governor Chris Christie.