District Profile
 

Science in the Classroom West Hartford, population 60,000, is a lively, attractive New England community, minutes from Connecticut's capital city and convenient to both New York and Boston, as well as the New England shoreline. A balance of well-kept residential neighborhoods, vibrant retail sectors, and solid commercial and industrial districts, along with a rich blend of cultures, give our town its unique, exciting character.

Residents take great pride in the outstanding reputation our public schools enjoy.

  • Eleven elementary, three middle, and two high schools serve over 10,000 pre-K to grade 12 students. Three of our elementary schools are pioneering magnet schools, providing intensive language, arts, science, mathematics, and technology instruction.
     

  • 72% of our 900-member faculty have postgraduate degrees. On average, our educators have 12 years of experience in their profession. 35% of our professional staff are trained as mentors, assessors, or cooperating teachers.
     

  • The average class size is 20 in our elementary schools, 21 in our middle schools, and 21 in our high schools. The district-wide student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
     

  • West Hartford residents represent a wide variety of backgrounds and speak more than 63 languages, diversity that helps all our students learn to celebrate our differences.
     

  • 93% of our high school graduates attend two- or four-year colleges.
     

  • Our students consistently achieve high scores on the SAT, CMT and CAPT, and rank among the top five districts in the state for participation in the Advanced Placement Program.
     

  • Our fine arts, music and theatre arts programs receive national recognition.  Throughout their school years, West Hartford students receive an education that combines academics with knowledge, appreciation and experience in the arts.  At the high school level, at least 50% of the student body takes a fine arts, music or theatre arts course.
     

  • An exemplary library media services program employs full-time specialists in all schools.  Our library media center collections include over 280,000 books and periodicals, as well as updated computer networks, on-line catalogs, CD-ROM resources, and online services.
     

  • Over 50% of our high school students join interscholastic athletic teams, many of which win conference or division titles, while demonstrating the sportsmanship for which our athletes are known.  About two-thirds of those who participate in athletics also achieve honor-roll status.

"What the West Hartford schools do so well is allow teachers to be themselves within a system where we all share intellectual and personal commitment.  That's the equation helping us keep one step ahead."

- Carol Chase, Math Teacher

[previous page]  [next page]  [return to human resources]