Old Rochester Regional High School held its annual school choice lottery on April 16.

The school choice program allows students from other districts to put their names in the hat to attend another district that has opted into the program.

Each district can choose how many slots to open and for which grades. The district is compensated $5,000 for each student.

Among the seven students selected by lottery were three who are automatically enrolled because they have siblings at the school already.

The students include three from Wareham, two from New Bedford and one from Acushnet.

A total of 31 students were vying for the seven openings. If any of the seven students selected do not decided to matriculate, the next students chosen in the lottery will be contacted.

This year’s lottery was held earlier than in previous years to allow selected students to make a decision earlier on whether or not they will enroll at ORR.

In previous years some slots have gone unfilled, and those who do enroll have been behind the rest of the school in choosing classes and doing summer assignments, said Principal Mike Devoll.

The school only opened up seven new slots this year due to a spike in the population and increasing class sizes. No slots were made available at the junior high.