New Haven Interdistrict Magnet Schools

177 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510 MAP
203-691-2400

School Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Grades: 9th – 12th grade
Principal: Dr. Dolores Garcia-Blocker
Enrollment: 550 students

Open House Dates

Tuesday, February 2, 2010: 6:00pm
Wednesday, February 3, 2010: 8:30am

NOTE: If you choose to apply to Co-Op, you will need to select one of the following specializations on the application form:

• Creative Writing
• Dance
• Music-Instrumental
• Music-Vocal
• Music-Strings
• Theater
• Visual Arts

The Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School (Co-Op) new state-of-the-art facility is located at 177 College Street in the heart of downtown New Haven, just blocks from the Shubert and Yale Repertory Theater, the Yale Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art. Designed by Cesar Pelli Associates, the school houses a 350-seat theatre with balcony, orchestra pit, scene shop, and black-box theatre, along with science labs, dance, video, and music recording studios, a library media center, and wireless computer connections throughout the building.

Co-Op is one of only two full-time creative and performing arts public high schools in Connecticut.

A college preparatory school, Co-Op offers Advanced Placement and honors classes to students, with 90 percent going on to college. Partnerships with local colleges and universities allow students to pursue independent studies in courses ranging from music theory to language classes in Swahili or Japanese.

One quarter of each school day is devoted to students’ chosen arts disciplines taught by certified teachers, many of whom are also professional artists. Disciplines include: Dance - African, ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and choreography; Music - band, strings, vocal, theory, recording technology, composition;Visual Arts - drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, graphic design, and video; Creative Writing - poetry, prose, playwriting, journalism;Theatre - acting, movement, voice, Shakespeare, technical theatre.

Co-op serves a diverse student body from New Haven and the surrounding region with a college focussed curriculum that incorporates an intensive arts program in a rigorous academic setting. Students include those with limited arts experience and those with extensive artistic training. We work with students of all ability levels in a challenging and supportive environment that enables each one to achieve at his or her highest potential. As a magnet school of choice, we expect applicants to come with an interest and commitment to our arts theme and with a dedication to work hard in all subjects. Though not designed as a pre-professional training school in the arts, we provide opportunities for the more advanced students with career aspirations in the arts to pursue these goals. We believe that all students have potential and the ability to learn. Regardless of the students' future goals, our arts curriculum provides pathways to wherever they may head after high school and to whatever vocation. Beyond arts skills, we prepare our students to be productive members of society, and ready for any profession where creativity, team building, collaboration, problem solving, individual thinking, self expression, self confidence, exploration, curiousity, experimentation are valued.

Additional School Features

• College prep, honors and Advanced Placement classes
• New courses in Chinese Language
• CAPT and SAT preparation
• Independent study opportunities at area colleges
• Middle College Initiative with Gateway Community College
• Networked computers and video projectors in every classroom
• Multimedia research library
• National student organizations
• Visiting artist master classes
• Extensive after school programs

Co-op’s Education Partners

• Creative Arts Workshop
• Long Wharf Theatre
• Neighborhood Music School
• Peabody Museum of Natural History
• Shubert Theatre
• Gateway Community College
• Quinnipiac University Scholars program
• Yale University Art Gallery, Drama School, Yale Center for British Art, School of Music, Beinecke and Sterling Libraries

What our students are saying...

"As a student attending Co-op for the past three years I can say that it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I recommend Co-op simply because it prepares you for college and it doesn't feel like school. Most people wake up for school and think the worst. I think it will be a good day filled with learning and friends. Co-op opened my eyes to diversity and more open-minded teachers. Teachers are like second mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. On the brink of graduation, I can happily say I will be graduating with optimism, open-mindedness, and a family. One of my best experiences was during the summer before senior year when I worked with my peers to help incoming freshman transition to high school. I enjoyed sharing how Co-op is, getting to know my fellow seniors better, and building stronger relations with teachers. I know that if I had the option to attend another school I would not choose anything but Co-op." - MJ S., Senior Theatre Student, Stratford

"At Co-op students learn to become individuals. Responsibility is developed; artists and performers evolve. Here there is always someone available to help you. The school is like a family that supports and grows with the students. Personally, I have grown as a performer, an artist, and as a person. Co-op prepares students for the real world." - Briana B-D., Senior Theatre Student, New Haven