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Kishimoto Calls Decision to Manage Another School "Logical"

By Kerri Provost

January 18, 2012

Beginning on July 1, 2012, Great Path Academy — a “middle college high school” located on the Manchester Community College (MCC) campus — will be managed by the Hartford Public Schools. It is currently managed by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).

Students at Great Path Academy follow the college semester calendar, have access to MCC’s resources, and primarily reside in Manchester, Tolland, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Bolton, and Coventry; 29% of Great Path Academy students are Hartford residents. The 2010 enrollment of 283 represented 15 towns in all. Current enrollment is at 247. David Medina, Director of External Communications for the Hartford Public Schools says that now Great Path Academy serves students from only seven other towns in Greater Hartford. No explanation was provided for the drop in enrollment and range of towns represented from 2010 to 2011.

Students are admitted to Great Path Academy through a “blind lottery” system.

Hartford Public Schools currently manages other high school/college collaborations: Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, The University High School of Science and Engineering at the University of Hartford, Capital Preparatory Magnet School (Capital Community College) and Pathways to Technology (Goodwin College).

Medina says that the “Hartford Public Schools would be responsible for personnel, curriculum, assessment, staff training, financial management and other aspects of day-to-day operations.”

Superintendent Christina M. Kishimoto said that the decision for the Hartford Public Schools to take on one more school to manage “represents a logical and appropriate direction based on our growth as a portfolio school district and our experience in implementing a range of school designs.”