Press Releases

ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School Named National Merit School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America

January 29th, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Hamden, CT – January 26, 2024) Area Cooperative Education Services (ACES) is pleased to announce ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School (WIMS) has been named a National Merit School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools.

WIMS is a K-8 Magnet school serving close to 630 students from more than a dozen Connecticut school districts. ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School provides all students with a safe and nurturing environment that immerses each student in the arts, grounds them in restorative behaviors and engages their minds to ensure academic and personal success. Wintergreen’s rigorous curriculum is designed and implemented to prepare students to leave our school with the inspiration to create, collaborate, communicate, and discover their passion through innovation and the arts.

"We are deeply honored and thrilled to announce that ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School has been recognized as a National Merit School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America,” said Dr. Thomas M. Danehy, ACES Executive Director. “This prestigious accolade is a testament to the dedication of our students, the hard work of our educators, and the collaborative spirit of our entire school community. We celebrate this achievement with immense pride and look forward to continuing our commitment to academic excellence and innovation in education."

Dr. Thomas M. Danehy will be recognized and receive a National Merit School of Excellence Award on behalf of the school during an awards ceremony held at Magnet Schools of America’s National Conference hosted by New York City Schools, April 16-20, 2024.

Merit School of Excellence Awards are only given to a select group of magnet schools. Schools of Excellence are eligible to receive monetary awards and are eligible to be named the nation’s top Elementary, Secondary, or New & Emerging Magnet School. One of the Schools of Excellence will also be selected to win $5,000 and the Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award, which is considered the most prestigious magnet school award in the nation.

To receive a national merit award, members of Magnet Schools of America must submit a detailed application that is scored by a panel of educators. These schools are judged and scored on their demonstrated ability to raise student academic achievement, promote racial and socioeconomic diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction, and create strong family and community partnerships that enhance the school’s magnet theme.

To learn more about the national merit awards program, please visit www.magnet.edu.

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About Magnet School of America:

MSA is a national nonprofit professional education association whose members are schools and school districts.  The association represents and, is a resource to, magnet schools, parents, teachers, school boards, administrators, business leaders, community organizations and institutions of higher education. For more information, go to www.magnet.edu

About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is the regional educational service center for New Haven and parts of Middlesex Counties. Established in 1969, ACES strives each day to fulfill its vision of creating an equitable and socially just world, one life at a time. ACES serves its members districts and others through an ever-growing array of programs, services, and schools that meet the needs of a changing educational landscape. As a school district, ACES operates three magnet and eight special education schools. ACES services range from transportation, professional development, school improvement services, technology, translation, international, security, and occupational and physical therapy. ACES operates the Open and Magnet School Parent Choice programs for New Haven County. Its programs include a federally funded Early Head Start Program and ACES ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically disabled adults ages 21 and older. For more information, go to www.aces.org.