Often Asked Questions by Parents

Q: How are students selected for the University Of Hartford Magnet School?
A: Students are selected through a computerized, random selection process, which is supervised by the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Q: If one child from a family is selected through the lottery, will siblings be allowed to attend?
A: Yes. If one child from a family is selected then all siblings will be eligible for admittance if there is availability at the appropriate grade level. Class size will take priority over sibling preference. See the FAQ below regarding what the class size will be.

Q:Will my child be eligible for Kindergarten at the University of Hartford Magnet School if he/she does not attend the preschool program?
A: Yes. Your child's name will be placed on the waiting list for the Kindergarten class for entry that specific school year.

Q: Is there before and after school child care available?
A: Childcare is available from 7:30a.m. - 5:30 p.m., daily, on a sliding scale.

Q: Who provides transportation for students to and from the University of Hartford Magnet School for my child?
A: Transportation for students in Kindergarten - Grade 5 is provided by the student's local school district. Arrangements for a student's pickup and drop off point will be arranged by the local school district. Transportation is not provided for Pre-Kindergarten students.

Q: What is the class at the University of Hartford Magnet School?
A: The student to teacher ratio at the University of Hartford Magnet School will be 20 to 1. Student teachers, in the graduate program of the University, will lend support, on a daily basis, to the classroom environment.

Q: What assessment tools will be used to monitor my child's academic growth?
A: Student academic progress will be monitored through periodic, criterion reference assessments appropriate for each specific grade level and Connecticut Mastery Tests. For example, student progress in reading will be monitored in Kindergarten with a record of understanding of Concepts of Print, sight based vocabulary inventory, Phonological Awareness Inventory, Running Records and DRA at the end of the year. A student's verbal responses to text and the student's overall attitude toward reading will be closely monitored. Samples of daily classroom work will be kept to demonstrate student progress and achievement toward grade level standards.

Q: What is the curriculum for the University of Hartford Magnet School based upon?
A: The curriculum for the magnet school is designed on current national and state standards, with a philosophical foundation based upon Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Q: What resources of the University of Hartford is available to the magnet school?
A: Physical plant facilities, university staff and students are available to support the education programming of the magnet school in a variety of ways and on an "as needed" basis.