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Registration of New Students

Parents of a student new to the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools must first contact the Registrar. Please call (413) 362-1703 or write to Registrar, c/o Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002. We ask that parents provide proof of residence within the district at the time of registration. Rental, lease, or purchase agreements are acceptable documents.

Massachusetts state law requires the following immunizations and documentation for all students before they can enroll. Parents must provide the dates that the immunizations were given by presenting documented records. Students without documentation of immunizations will not be enrolled.

Grades 7-12
Hepatitis B	3 doses
DTaP/DTP/DT/Td (Diphtheria-Tetanus) (Td Booster)	4 doses DTaP/DTP or 3 doses Td plus 1 Td booster within past 5 years
Polio	4 doses unless third dose was given after the fourth birthday (If mixed IPV/OPV must have 4 doses)
MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella)	2 doses measles, 1 mumps, 1 rubella or 2 MMR (First dose must be after 1 year of age)
Varicella	1 dose (if younger than 13 years), 2 doses (if 13 years or older), or documentation of having had chicken pox

A copy of a physical examination that has been given within the last six (6) months must be provided, or the student must have a new physical examination within the school year. If a new physical examination is required and has not yet been given, the student may be temporarily enrolled if the parent provides us with the name of the doctor and the date and time of the scheduled physical examination. Medical and/or religious exemptions (available for immunizations only) require written documentation.
A birth certificate or passport must be provided at the time of registration.

It is helpful if parents bring a transcript from the previous school to assist in grade placement and selection of courses. The Registrar will request an official transcript and educational record after enrollment takes place, or the parent can request that transcript and records be mailed directly to ARHS.

A student may be required to take placement tests to determine the most appropriate classes. Such placement tests may be needed for enrollment in the appropriate English, mathematics, world language, and music classes. These assessments will be given before students/families meet with their counselors to register for classes. Students who are native speakers of languages other than English or whose home language is other than English will be tested for English fluency before they are placed in English and social studies classes.

After officially enrolling their child and when appropriate placements are determined (math, world language, ELL and/or Special Education), families will be scheduled to meet with a guidance counselor. In this conference the counselor reviews the student’s previous records, discusses selection of appropriate courses with the parent/guardian and student, and builds an appropriate schedule. If the student has an active IEP, the Special Education administrator must first review the IEP and other relevant evaluation materials. A team meeting may be required prior to developing a student schedule to ensure that appropriate special education services are in place to meet the needs of the student.

The process of registration may take two or three days to complete. Families may request a registration packet prior to arriving in the area. This will expedite the process and will assist parents and students who are new to the system.