Hartford Magnet Trinty College Academy

HMTCA Website

HMTCA named #1 Magnet School in the Country!! - May 2011


COMPASS Youth Collaborative proudly serves the after-school needs of The Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy(HMTCA). The HMTCA experience begins with a strong core curriculum in each of the following areas: language arts, reading, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, technology, world language and physical education. Students are served by a demanding program of studies and culture of high expectations. The HMTCA program builds on this rigorous academic foundation by emphasizing two complementary disciplines: science and the arts. HMTCA’s science program helps students develop analytical skills, understand the world in which they live and become responsible citizens. The arts program helps students develop focus, discipline, imagination, judgment, personal drive, experience in teamwork and attention to detail. HMMS students engage in a wide variety if artistic disciplines including music, drama, dance and the visual arts. All 7th and 8th grade students receive arts instruction both at HMTCA and at the greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

In keeping with the themes of scientific thinking and artistic expression, students use the school's rich technology resources to locate, organize and display evidence of their learning in a variety of traditional and digital media. As part of the magnet's focus on science, all students are required to complete a quality science fair project. Under the direction of the science teachers, the students are guided through a rigorous process of preparation that culminates with the completion of their projects. In addition to the completion of these projects, all students required to write at least five science lab reports. The teacher will determine how much support to give each student towards the completion of his or her project depending on the student's grade and specific needs.

HMTCA continues to integrate Father Flanagan’s Boys Town Educational Model into its daily instruction. This program builds strong character traits and focuses on teaching life skills for daily application. The program supports our school's mission of transforming obstacles into opportunities and our school's motto of being honorable in our actions.

LEAD AGENCY STAFF
(P) 860.695.7275


Christina Morales Smith, Community School Director, (860) 695-7286
Anne Leonard, After-School Program Coordinator
Donna Williams, Administrative Assistant
Debra Avery & Maria Gonzalez, Education Coordinator, Grades 6th-8th

HARTFORD MAGNET TRINITY COLLEGE ACADEMY
53 Vernon Street, Hartford CT 06106
860.695.7201

ADMINISTRATORS
Sally Biggs, Principal
Gwyndolyn Adams, Assistant Principal
Sheldon Neal, Assistant Principal
Stacey Chambers, Resident Principal

Enrollment: 602 in school (All students have access to Community School Programs)
Enrollment in Afterschool: 150
Address:
53 Vernon Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Geographical location: South Frog Hollow Neighborhood

More Information

Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy offers highly motivated students a rigorous core academic program with a focus on the arts and sciences. The school program fosters the development of critical thinking and analytical skills through inquiry. The science curriculum helps students explore the world around them and their recognize their responsibility to make it a better place to live in. The arts program facilitates development of focus, attention to detail, imagination and judgment, in addition to fostering teamwork, self-discipline and problem-solving skills. The school offers

  • Comprehensive academic high school preparatory curriculum
  • Extensive technology and fine arts electives
  • Accelerated mathematics program
  • Honor courses
  • Hands-on inquiry-based science curriculum
  • Leading edge technology (interactive SmartBoards in all classrooms)
  • 80 minute block scheduling
  • Small class size
  • Saturday Academy
  • Girls & Boys Town program
  • Opportunities for active parent involvement as defined by the school compact
  • W.E.B. (Where Everybody Belongs)
  • National Junior Honor Society Chapter
  • Student Council
  • Project Lead the Way: Introduction to Engineering

The U.S. Department of Education awarded HMMS the NCLB Blue Ribbon School Award in 2006. HMMS was also recognized by the New England League of Middle Schools as a Spotlight School in 2005 and 2008.
 
Hartford Magnet Trinity Academy partners with the Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, Trinity College, College for Every Student (CFES), the Hartford Stage Company, Hartford Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to provide students with a wide array of learning and enrichment activities.

School Improvement Plans and Activities

School Improvement this year at HMTCA is centered around 4 goals:

  1. To increase the percentage of students scoring at proficiency or higher in reading from 73.5% to 77.5% as measured by the CMT administered in March 2008.
  2. To increase the percentage of students scoring at Proficiency or higher in mathematics from 77% to 81% as measured by the CMT administered in March 2008. 70% of students will meet or exceed proficiency criteria as evidenced by school-based mathematics assessments.
  3. To increase the number of educational opportunities for students and families to ensure strong community collaboration and family involvement to support increased student achievement.
  4. To reduce the percentage of students suspended from school by 10%, including all subgroups. In working toward these goals, the stakeholders at HMTCA employ various  strategies including small group reading classes, student work examination protocols, professional development around effective instruction, increased class time for mathematics instruction in grade six, smaller class sizes for mathematics classes, classroom management coaching and the identification of at-risk students to be served by a school-wide intervention team.