While Connecticut is home to America’s largest achievement gap, it is also home to some of our nation’s high-performing urban public schools. This section of ConnCAN's website serves as a growing repository of these lessons learned from Connecticut's success stories.

To order a FREE DVD with all 10 Connecticut Success Story videos, email your name and address to Allison.Pelliccio@conncan.org and write "Success Story DVD" in the subject line.

Lessons from Connecticut's Success Stories

During the 2007-08 school year, ConnCAN visited nine Connecticut Success Stories to learn more about the elements of their success. This video provides an overview of these lessons learned. Below are the full videos for all nine schools.

Hartford's Classical Magnet School

In 2007, Classical Magnet had the third largest improvement in student achievement of any middle school in the state.

New Haven's Amistad Academy

In 2007, Amistad Academy was first for middle school Hispanic scores, fourth for African American scores, and eighth for low-income student scores.

Greenwich’s Hamilton Avenue School

In 2007, Hamilton Avenue was first in the state for elementary Hispanic scores and eighth for elementary low-income student scores.

New Haven’s Elm City College Prep

In 2007, Elm City was first in the state for middle school African American scores, third for middle school low-income scores, and eighth for middle school performance gains.  

Bridgeport’s New Beginnings Family Academy

In 2007, New Beginnings was first in the state in elementary performance gains, improvement and African American scores and first in the state in middle school improvement.

Hamden’s Church Street School

In 2007, Chruch Street had the second largest performance gains of any elementary school in the state and the fourth highest African American scores.

Bridgeport's Thurgood Marshall/Six to Six Magnet School

In 2007, Thurgood Marshall had the second largest improvement of any middle school in Connecticut and the sixth largest performance gains with its students.

New Britain's Holmes School

In 2007, Holmes made the third largest performance gains with its students of any elementary school in Connecticut.

Hartford's Jumoke Academy

In 2007, Jumoke appeared six times on the Top 10 lists, including the second highest African American elementary and middle school scores and the second largest middle school performance gains.