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Founded in 1881, Watkinson School is Hartford's oldest independent school.
We serve approximately 220 students from over forty Connecticut towns in grades six through twelve, including The Academy at Watkinson a unique post graduate program.
Watkinson's mission is to develop in our students the power to shape their own lives and the world around them.
Watkinson's programs are as exceptional as the students we serve. Our Creative Arts, Exhibitions, Global Studies and Learning Skills Programs offer students an broad range of experiences - from guest speakers, to international travel, to memorable reflection, to one-on-one coaching. You will not find programs like these anywhere else.
Students who qualify may take classes at the University of Hartford and/or the University of Saint Joseph and earn college credit while still in high school.
Club or Organization: Community Service, Dance, Environmental Club, Minecraft Club, Model United Nations, Pickleball Club, Video Production, Writing Club, Yoga
Arts and Music Programs: Chorus, Orchestra, Theater
School Notes
A Hartford fixture since 1881,Watkinson`s mission is to
develop in our students the power to shape their lives and the
world around them. Watkinson`s 40-acre campus is adjacent to the
University of Hartford. Watkinson`s faculty includes 47 teachers,
27 of whom hold graduate degrees or above. Our student to
teacher ratio is 5:1 and the average class size is 13. Our
architecturally-rich campus features buildings on the National
Registry of Historic Places plus an energy efficient Science and
Global Citizenship Center, the first of its kind in New
England.
Watkinson is a lead school for the Coalition of Essential
Schools (www.essentialschools.org), one of only 5 schools to be so
honored. The Coalition's ten common principles form the daily basis
of an outstanding education.
Watkinson is a mission-driven school. That means we plan our
lessons, organize our curriculum, and build our buildings with one
question in mind: how does this help our students develop the power
to shape their lives and the world around them By questioning
assumptions, making connections, and applying new patterns in new
ways, students find themselves becoming more than they ever
imagined. Always, we help them ask: What kind of world can I create
with this knowledge, these skills, this understanding of
myself.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
David Hemingson - Accomplished writer and producer for film and television. He is best known for writing the critically acclaimed film The Holdovers, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Richard Plepler - Richard Plepler is an American media executive, who is said to have ushered in the second golden age of television, and former chairman and chief executive officer of Home Box Office, Inc. a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc, and AT&T's WarnerMedia.
Opus Moreschi - Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, known for his work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015-present).
When is the application deadline for Watkinson School?
The application deadline for Watkinson School is Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Grades: PK-12 | 229 students9.6 miles 36 Westledge Rd West Simsbury, CT 06092 (860) 651-9361
9.6
PK-12
229
School Reviews
5.00 out of 5(2 reviews)
511/10/2022
I LOVE Watkinson. It has given me a chance to explore my interests and make a lot of wonderful new friends. This is my third year and it has been the best decision of my life.
- Posted by Student/Alumni - ZLR
51/31/2013
The transition for my 11th grader to Watkinson has been fantastic. He continues to excel in the courses he is strong in, but now enjoys and is learning in those he previously struggled in. The atmosphere at Watkinson is only truly understood when you spend time on the campus - it is unlike any other private school and the only one that seems to intuitively understand the soft skills that will truly be critical for our children to navigate their future. My only wish is we had started soon. Its best summed up by my son who transitioned at a challenging time he said to his sister "sure i miss my friends - but I am doing so much better in school and am learning without being stressed."
- Posted by Parent - amyfr
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The average private school tuition in Hartford County, CT is $22,249 for elementary schools and $37,339 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
