Eighth-graders in Norwich and Bozrah will have another high school to add to their list of choices starting next academic year after boards of education in the two towns approved a proposal to allow students to attend Waterford High School.

The Norwich Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6-2 in favor of adding Waterford High School to its growing list of choices for local eighth-graders, but also voted against adding Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon. School board Chairwoman Yvette Jacaruso said that while Norwich already has school buses traveling to Groton and New London in the vicinity of Waterford High School, there are no buses that currently transport Norwich students to the Lebanon area.

Jacaruso said some Norwich students might prefer the smaller size of Lyman Memorial but it wouldn’t be practical to offer it as a choice.

“Not Lyman, because we would have to add an extra bus,” Jacaruso said Wednesday. “We can’t do that. We’re sending kids all over. I’m not against the kids going to different schools, but it raises the money issue.”

Waterford Superintendent Tom Giard said with school enrollment expected to decline slightly over the next several years, school officials felt confident space would be available to reach out to several surrounding districts that don’t have their own high schools. After the Waterford board approved the move, Giard and Waterford High School officials presented proposals to Norwich, Bozrah, Sprague and Franklin — all of which are partner districts with Norwich Free Academy.

Giard said Bozrah approved Waterford High School as a choice in March, and Norwich this week. Waterford still is in active discussions with Sprague and Franklin, Giard said.

Norwich will be offered up to 10 spots per year at Waterford High School, for a maximum of 40 students. Bozrah will have up to three spots per year, for a maximum of 12 students at a time. Waterford’s proposed tuition for next year is $12,012, not including transportation. Tuition for special-education students would be worked out for individual students' needs, Giard said.

Waterford High School has an enrollment of about 840 students.

Norwich has buses transporting students to the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in Groton and to the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in New London.

Giard said the timing of the recent approvals, and the potential future votes in Sprague and Franklin, is late in the school selection process. Most eighth-graders hear pitches from local available high schools in late fall. He said Waterford will provide packets of written materials to eighth-grade guidance counselors in Norwich and Bozrah, and will have staff available to meet with individual students and their parents in the coming weeks.

c.bessette@theday.com