ACT Comprehensive Arts Magnet High School

ACT, which has been the part-time arts magnet high school that currently serves grades 9 through 12, will continue its part-time operation in the afternoon. The full-time high school will run concurrently with ACT’s part-time program and will serve both ninth- and tenth-grade students. Students will come from eastern Connecticut’s public schools.

Monday through Thursday, the full-day high schoolers receive rigorous instruction and support in core academics in the morning and attend arts courses in the afternoon. Fridays, high school students only attend the academic core classes. The arts courses explore both the traditional performing arts, as well as “behind-the-scenes” subjects like creative writing, videography, sound and lighting, set-building, costume design and directing. The high school serves students who are interested in all aspects of the arts, not just performance.

EASTCONN intends to expand the high school to include students in grades 9 through 12 in the future. Details are still under discussion.

ACT, which stands for Arts at the Capitol Theater, opened in 2004, after a $17 million state-funded grant allowed EASTCONN to renovate the abandoned theater and turn it into a state-of-the-art performing arts and teaching facility.

EASTCONN, which administers ACT and the Capitol Theater, as well as the Capitol Theater Arts Academy, is a regional educational service agency serving 36 public schools in eastern Connecticut since 1980.

To learn more about the comprehensive arts magnet high school at the Capitol Theater, contact EASTCONN Director of Student Services Thomas F. Cronin at 860-455-0707, or tcronin@eastconn.org.

Frequently Asked Questions about the New Full-Day Arts High School

Q: How many ninth-and tenth-grade students will participate in the school?
A: Approximately 60 students from across the region.

Q: What happens if too many students apply?
A: A lottery will be held.

Q: What subjects will the core curriculum include?
A: Rigorous instruction in core academic subjects will be offered in a block schedule and include English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish. Instruction will be differentiated to meet the range of student needs. Teachers will be appropriately certified. Additional courses will be available through Virtual High School.

Q: What subjects will the arts curriculum include?
A: Ninth-grade students will select from the full spectrum of arts courses, including acting, singing, dance, theater production, audio/video production, creative writing, and more.

Q: How is the school day scheduled?
A: Classes will begin at about 9:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Friday, classes will begin at about 9:30 a.m. and end at 1:45 p.m.

Q: What is the program school calendar?
A: It will parallel the local school calendar. Students will receive a minimum of 180 days (more than 1,000 hours) of instruction.

Q: How will students be transported to the Capitol Theater?
A: Either EASTCONN or sending districts will provide student transportation. Where appropriate, routes will be coordinated.

Q: Where will the school's students attend 11th grade the following year?
A: EASTCONN will expand the school to include grades nine through twelve.

Q: What is the application process?
A: Students must complete an application and return it to Tracy Goodell-Pelletier by Friday, February 1, 2008. Applications will be sent to all eighth-grade guidance offices. In addition, applications can be downloaded here.

Q: How do prospective students and their families find out more?
A: There will be an open house at ACT on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. Students and their families can visit ACT on “Take-a-Look Tuesdays” by making an appointment with Adam Friedman at 860-465-5636, ext. 3060. To schedule a time to “shadow” the ACT program, call Tracy Goodell-Pelletier at 465-5636, ext. 2110.