New Haven Interdistrict Magnet Schools

100 Jewel Street, New Haven, CT 06511 MAP
203-691-3800

Grades: Pre K – 8th grade
School Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Principal: Kathy Russell Beck
Assistant Principal: Karen Carazo
Enrollment: 620 students

Open House 2012

Wednesday, January 18: 10:30-11:30am
Thursday, January 19: 5:30-7pm
Wednesday, February 1: 5:30-7pm (Exhibition Night)

School Tours

Available by appointment

Shadowing for Grades 5-8

Available by appointment

More Info

Call Erin Michaud at (203) 691-3829

School Overview

L.W. Beecher Museum Magnet School of Arts and Sciences uses a “hands-on approach” to learning, using theme based and object based studies to help students explore, apply and create knowledge in both individual and group projects.

Students present their conclusions through exhibitions, reports and publications. During school-wide exhibitions, classrooms become museums and students become museum guides.

Beecher Museum School of Arts and Sciences has formed partnerships with renowned museums in New Haven. These partnerships enable prekindergarten through eighth grade students to use museum collections and exhibitions as a springboard to academic discovery and exploration. Students travel on field trips called “Learning Expeditions” to learn core subjects more indepth, using the museum as a primary research source.

Museum educators, artists and scientists visit the school and introduce students to museum collections featuring history, science technology, and the arts. Teachers use original documents, artifacts and other primary sources to make class lessons more relevant and allow children to form their own discoveries and connections.

Beecher Museum Magnet School is a Paideia school. Paideia practices strongly support the values of object based instruction supporting integrated core curriculum and individualized assessment based on personal growth. Paideia also fosters a school culture dedicated to lifelong learning and encourages an environment in which students are active participants in the democratic process.

Additional School Features

• Full Day PreK3 & PreK4 programs with certified teachers (7:30am - 5:30pm)
• Learning Expeditions to museums, galleries, businesses and community locations
• Object based learning practices integrated with core curriculum
• Project based learning and quarterly Exhibition Nights of student work
• Spanish instruction in grades 6-8
• Computers in all classrooms and dedicated computer lab; two wireless laptop labs; LCD players all classrooms with video streaming capability
• Band program and instrumental lessons for grades 5-8
• Photography Club
• Yearbook Club
• Math Counts Club
• Drama Club (with spring production)
• Drill Team
• Southern Academy (Summer Academic Program)
• Early Bird and After Care available

Beecher’s Education Partners

• Yale Center for British Art
• Yale Art Gallery
• Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
• New Haven Museum and Historical Society
• Southern Connecticut State University

What our students are saying...

"Drama Club and theater productions are the most exciting experiences I’ve had while attending Beecher. Other kids should attend Beecher because it is a diverse place where the teachers encourage you to do well and reward you for good work." -Isabelle and Nyasia, 5th grade

"The best thing about Beecher is all the trips that we go on! I think other kids should attend Beecher because they can learn a lot and make new friends." -Nikikiyah Brown, 3rd grade