District
Vision Statement
All members of the Goodwin University Magnet School System are empowered to advocate for a just and sustainable world while developing competencies for future success within a transformative PreK-early college system.
Mission Statement
The Goodwin University Magnet School System breaks down barriers while celebrating the many talents within our community. Partnering with families, educators, and the community, we challenge our scholars to take ownership of their learning through authentic, innovative pathways.
Exposure - Riverside Magnet School
The Goodwin University Magnet School System provides a cohesive and rigorous pre-K through 12 experience. Scholars are challenged through rich, diverse project-based learning opportunities at all levels. At Riverside Magnet School, scholars are exposed to a wide range of STEM fields through engaging investigations and inquiry.
Exploration - Connecticut River Academy Middle School
As a small school of less than 200 scholars, CTRA Middle School offers a safe and welcoming environment while providing access to the resources of a university campus. At CTRA Middle Level, scholars apply critical thinking skills and utilize prior learning to further explore STEM fields. Scholars are prepared to identify a meaningful pathway for their discovery and research as they transition to high school.
Experience - Connecticut River Academy High School
Located on the Goodwin University campus, high school students access dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses, a state-of-the-art manufacturing center, and a research vessel for use on the Connecticut River. Through innovative curriculum and engaging teaching practices, CTRA high school scholars experience personalized learning pathways through job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships.
Emergence - Early College Advanced Manufacturing Pathway (ECAMP)
Located in a state-of-the art manufacturing center on the Goodwin University campus, ECAMP is a dual enrollment, early college half day program that is designed for high school seniors looking to pursue careers in production. With options to attend in either a morning or afternoon cohort, our rigorous 21-credit program prepares scholars for success in industry by providing them with immediately applicable, on-the-job knowledge and skills, including blueprint reading, manufacturing math, lean manufacturing principles, CNC machining, and many others. All program participants have the opportunity for placement in a paid industry pre-apprenticeship during school hours. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive an industry-recognized certification from the Department of Labor, equivalent to 200 hours towards a first apprenticeship in manufacturing.
About Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn.1, 678 A.2d 1267
On April 27, 1989, eighteen children, acting through their parents, filed a civil action in the Hartford Superior Court alleging that their fundamental right to education was being denied due to a lack of state resources being spent in areas with majority Black and Latino populations. The lead plaintiff was Milo Sheff, the son of Elizabeth Horton Sheff, and the state of Connecticut and Governor William A. O’Neill were listed as defendants. Following a decision made in favor of the defense, the action was appealed and sent to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1996. On July 9, 1996, in a 4-3 decision, the court ruled in favor of Sheff plaintiffs concluding that the state was constitutionally obligated to provide children with equal educational opportunities and that a student’s access to public education should not be impaired by their racial and ethnic isolation. It also ruled that school districting based upon town and city boundary lines was unconstitutional because it contributed to large, concentrated areas of minority groups in Hartford. Many years passed before the Connecticut Supreme Court passed a settlement in January 2020 that would ensure more choice seats for students and more funding for extracurricular activities for students in Connecticut.
This landmark case is responsible for the creation of several magnet schools in the Hartford region, including the Goodwin University Magnet School System schools.