# Hartford Public Schools (Connecticut)

Hartford Public Schools (HPS) is a school district serving the city of Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford Public Schools 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. Hartford Public High School 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
### List of past superintendents

* Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez (2017–Current)
* 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 Name | Education Level | School Type | Grades Offered | Operator |
| Achievement First Hartford Academy Elementary | Elementary Schools | District Partnership | K-4 | Achievement First |
| Achievement First Hartford Academy Middle | Middle & High Schools | District Partnership | 5–8 | Achievement First |
| Achievement First Hartford High Academy | Middle & High Schools | District Partnership | 9–12 | Achievement First |
| Achievement First Summit Middle | Middle & High Schools | District Partnership | 5–8 | Achievement First |
| Alfred E. Burr Elementary | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Betances STEM Magnet | Elementary Schools | Magnet | 5–8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Breakthrough Magnet School, North | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-6 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Breakthrough Magnet School, South | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Bulkeley High School | Middle & High Schools | District | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Burns Latino Studies Academy | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Capital Preparatory Magnet | PK-12 Schools | Magnet | PK-12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Classical Magnet | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Naylor School | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy | Other Options & Opportunities | District | 4–8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| MD Fox School | Elementary Schools | District | PK-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Kennelly School | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Environmental Sciences Magnet School at Mary Hooker | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan School | Elementary Schools | District Open Choice | PK-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Global Communications Academy | PK-12 Schools | District Open Choice | K-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Great Path Academy at Manchester Community College | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 6–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Hartford Pre-K Magnet | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK | Hartford Public Schools |
| Hartford Public High School | Middle & High Schools | District Open Choice | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Sanchez Elementary | Elementary Schools | District | PK-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School | Middle & High Schools | District | 6-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| McDonough Middle School | Middle & High Schools | District | 6–8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Montessori Magnet Moylan | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-6 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Montessori Magnet School at Annie Fisher | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Wish Museum School | Elementary Schools | District | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Webster MicroSociety Magnet | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| OPPortunity High School | Other Options & Opportunities | District Partnership | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Parkville Community School | Elementary Schools | District | PK-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Pathways Academy of Technology and Design | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Kinsella Magnet School, PK-8 | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Kinsella Magnet School, High School | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Betances Early Learning Lab | Elementary Schools | Magnet | PK-3 | Hartford Public Schools |
| S.A.N.D. School | Elementary Schools | District | K-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Rawson Elementary | Elementary Schools | District | PK-5 | Hartford Public Schools |
| STEM Magnet at Annie Fisher | Elementary Schools | Magnet | K-8 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Sport and Medical Sciences Academy | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 6–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Milner Middle School | Middle & High Schools | District | 6–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| University High School of Science and Engineering | Middle & High Schools | Magnet | 9–12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| Weaver High School | Middle & High Schools | District | 9-12 | Hartford Public Schools |
| West Middle | Elementary Schools | District | K-8 | Hartford Public Schools |

## Demographics

Over 20,000 students attend Hartford public schools. 76% of students are Hartford residents, while 24% are residents from 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 student 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.