The Connecticut Charter Schools Network

Connecticut Charter Schools - Hartford

Name: Sport Sciences Academy
Location: Hartford
Current grade levels: 9-12
Current enrollment: 300
Opened: 1997

Mailing Address:
Sport Sciences Academy
338 Asylum Street
Hartford, Ct 06103

Phone and Fax:
(860) 722-8009
(860) 722-8017 (fax)

Contact:
Karen Finder, Principal

What is the vision of Sport Sciences Academy?

Hartford's Sport Sciences Academy is a local charter school which utilizes a thematic approach in delivering a cross-disciplinary curriculum, integrating technology into all subject areas. It is a community school where parents and teachers serve as mentors, advisors, and coaches, encouraging students to take an active role in their learning and to achieve academic success. It is a partnership of the educational and business communities with a strong commitment to public service opportunities, allowing students to develop social consciousness and leadership skills which will foster pride in both the school and the community. Graduates of the Sport Sciences Academy will enter the 21st century as contributing, productive members of society destined for lifelong learning.

What is a student's program like?

* A "block schedule" provides 84-minute classes.

* A core program with courses in math, English, science, social studies, Spanish, and Sport Studies.

* Students participate in community service and college courses.

* Advisory and skills labs are provided to insure academic success.

* All students are required to take a full academic program each year, in order to meet the school's rigorous graduation requirements.

* All students are required to complete a grade-level exhibition in order to advance to the next grade.

* All students must earn 28.5 credits in order to graduate.

What kind of students enroll at Sport Sciences Academy?

The student body consists of a very diverse group of ninth through twelfth graders from local and surrounding high schools. Students and their parents who are interested in a school designed to meet their individual needs are encouraged to apply. The strong commitment from the founders, faculty and community, coupled with the thematic school-to-career model of instruction, allows students of all cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds to achieve a successful high school experience.

What is the philosophy of the school-to-career approach?

The world is changing rapidly. Many jobs rely on new technology, and more and more jobs require education beyond high school. It is the philosophy of the Sport Sciences Academy that all students will:

* meet rigorous academic standards
* connect "learning" in school with "earning" in the workplace
* understand how their interests and preferences relate to careers
* be able to earn college credits while still in high school
* learn technical knowledge and skills, and
* learn workplace skills

Students will also discover the following:

* what careers are available to them in the fields of sport marketing, law, medicine, education, and personal fitness, and where to go to get advanced training for these careers
* what programs, courses, internships and workplace experiences are available to teach them the basic and higher-level skills they will need in order to prepare for a career
* what they should know and be able to do in order to succeed in a career, and
* what they might expect regarding wages, hours of work, benefits, and employment potential.

For more information, including information about the enrollment process, contact Sport Sciences Academy at (860) 722-8009.