Hartford Public Schools (HPS) is a school district serving the city of Hartford, Connecticut, United States. It is the largest public school district in Connecticut, serving 46 magnet and non-magnet schools in the district. The graduation rate for Hartford public schools in 2016–2017 was 68.8%, lower than the state average of 87.9%.

History

Hartford Public High School, the second oldest public high school in the United States, was founded by Rev. Thomas Hooker in the 17th century as a school that would prepare men for Puritan ministry. It was funded in large part by the will of Governor Edward Hopkins in 1657. Hartford Public High School, as it is known now, was officially opened in 1847.

Bulkeley High, Capital Prep, and Weaver High School were a few of the many high schools that were opened in Hartford in the early 20th century. Due to the advent of war during the early 20th century, Hartford's population boomed, which led to the opening of many public high schools during the mid-century.

The Sheff v. O'Neill Connecticut Supreme Court decision in 1996 concluded that school districting based on town boundary lines was unconstitutional and led to a large disparity in racial and ethnic minorities in Hartford Public High Schools. In 1997, state legislature passed An Act Enhancing Educational Choices and Opportunities, which created inter-district magnet schools to preserve equal educational opportunity with racial and ethnic balance in Hartford.

The magnet school program in Hartford has grown to include 20 magnet schools in the county, which can be attended by students across the state of Connecticut.

Leadership

Past superintendents Dr. Andraé Townsel (2025–present) Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez (2017–2025) Beth Schiavino-Narvaez (2014–2016) Christina Kishimoto (2011–2014) Dr. Steven J. Adamowski (2006–2011) Robert Henry (2002–2006) Anthony S. Amato (1999–2002)

Schools School nameEducation levelSchool typeGrades offeredOperator Alfred E. Burr Middle SchoolMiddle schoolDistrict6-8Hartford Public SchoolsBetances Early Learning LabElementary schoolMagnetPK-3Hartford Public SchoolsBetances STEM MagnetElementary schoolMagnet5–8Hartford Public SchoolsBreakthrough Magnet School, NorthElementary schoolMagnetPK-6Hartford Public SchoolsBreakthrough Magnet School, SouthElementary schoolMagnetPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsBulkeley High SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict9–12Hartford Public SchoolsBurns Latino Studies AcademyElementary schoolDistrictPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsCapital Preparatory MagnetPK-12 schoolMagnetPK-12Hartford Public SchoolsClassical MagnetMiddle & high schoolMagnet9–12Hartford Public Schools Dr. James H Naylor/CCSU Leadership AcademyElementary schoolDistrictPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsDr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented AcademyOther options & opportunitiesDistrict4–8Hartford Public SchoolsDwight-Bellizzi Dual Language AcademyElementary schoolDistrictPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsEnvironmental Sciences Magnet School at Mary HookerElementary schoolMagnetPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsExpeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan SchoolElementary schoolDistrict open choicePK-5Hartford Public SchoolsGlobal Communications AcademyPK-12 schoolDistrict Open ChoiceK-8Hartford Public SchoolsGreat Path Academy at Manchester Community CollegeMiddle & high schoolMagnet9–12Hartford Public SchoolsHartford Magnet Trinity College AcademyMiddle & high schoolMagnet6–12Hartford Public SchoolsHartford Pre-K MagnetElementary schoolMagnetPKHartford Public SchoolsHartford Public High SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict open choice9–12Hartford Public SchoolsKennelly SchoolElementary schoolDistrictPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsKinsella Magnet School, High SchoolMiddle & high schoolMagnet9–12Hartford Public SchoolsKinsella Magnet School, PK-8Elementary schoolMagnetPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsMartin Luther King Jr. Middle SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict6-8Hartford Public SchoolsMcDonough Middle SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict6–8Hartford Public SchoolsMD Fox SchoolElementary schoolDistrictPK-5Hartford Public SchoolsMilner Middle SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict6–12Hartford Public SchoolsMontessori Magnet MoylanElementary schoolMagnetPK-6Hartford Public SchoolsMontessori Magnet School at Annie FisherElementary schoolMagnetPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsOPPortunity High SchoolOther Options & OpportunitiesDistrict Partnership9–12Hartford Public SchoolsParkville Community SchoolElementary schoolDistrictPK-5Hartford Public SchoolsPathways Academy of Technology and DesignMiddle & high schoolMagnet9–12Hartford Public SchoolsRawson ElementaryElementary schoolDistrictPK-5Hartford Public SchoolsS.A.N.D. SchoolElementary schoolDistrictK-5Hartford Public SchoolsSanchez ElementaryElementary schoolDistrictPK-5Hartford Public SchoolsSport and Medical Sciences AcademyMiddle & high schoolMagnet6–12Hartford Public SchoolsSTEM Magnet at Annie FisherElementary schoolMagnetK-8Hartford Public SchoolsUniversity High School of Science and EngineeringMiddle & high schoolMagnet9–12Hartford Public SchoolsWeaver High SchoolMiddle & high schoolDistrict9-12Hartford Public SchoolsWebster MicroSociety MagnetElementary schoolMagnetPK-8Hartford Public SchoolsWest MiddleElementary schoolDistrictK-8Hartford Public SchoolsWish Museum SchoolElementary schoolDistrictPK-8Hartford Public Schools

Demographics Over 20,000 students attend Hartford Public Schools. 76% are Hartford residents, while 24% are residents of 78 other Connecticut towns. In the 2018–2019 school year, non-magnet Hartford public school students were 30% African-American, 64% Hispanic, 3% White, 2% Asian, and 1% other populations. Magnet Hartford public schools were 31% African-American, 38% Hispanic, 20% White, 7% Asian, and 4% other populations.

In 2018–2019, 97 languages were spoken by Hartford public school students. Out of the 97 languages, 58% spoke English, 33% spoke Spanish, 1% spoke Serbo-Croatian, 1% spoke Karen, 1% spoke Portuguese, and 6% of students spoke 92 other languages.

Out of the 2018–2019 population, 18% of students were special education students. 66% of special education students were male, while 34% were female. 72% of specially educated students were enrolled in non-magnet schools, 7% were in magnet schools, 9% were in 19 in-district programs, and 12% were in 61 outplacement programs.

See also

List of the oldest public high schools in the United States

References

External links Hartford Public Schools