Press Releases

ACES’ New Ownership Brings Nationally Recognized Educational Leadership and Management to Chase Collegiate School

May 28th, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2021

(Waterbury, Conn.): Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), Chase Collegiate Education, and Land LLC are excited to announce that ACES has closed on the purchase of the assets of Chase Collegiate. The closing followed after an agreement between Chase Collegiate and ACES had been signed and confirmed by the court. In the continued efforts to preserve the legacy, mission and vision of the historic educational institution, Chase Collegiate School will become one of the first private schools in Connecticut to adopt and welcome a public magnet school business model, while remaining independent and true to the identity and reputation it has built over decades as an esteemed New England day school. Fred Waid, Receiver, had been working since his appointment in 2018 to return the School as a non-profit and meet the goal of building “a new framework for the institution to endure another 150+ years.” The hallmark of a Chase Collegiate School education, the commitment to academic, artistic, and athletic programs, which nurture achievement and personal growth, along with the continued support of professional development, will endure. 

Mayor Neil O’Leary shared the following, "I am happy to learn that an agreement between ACES and Chase Collegiate School has been signed, and that the Chase campus and classes will be open for grades 6 - 8 this fall. I look forward to the next chapter at Chase, a time honored educational institution in our City. To have a partner in ACES, an organization that has proven confidence and investment in public education, is a great opportunity for all of us to continue to raise the bar across the City all the way around and address the needs of our kids. We also look forward to the expansion of grades each year, there certainly is the room.”

Dr. Thomas Danehy, ACES’ Executive Director stated, “ACES’ purchase of Chase provides its present Thomas Edison Middle School to move into a new home after Meriden takes back its present location in Meriden on June 30. All current ACES students at Thomas Edison School can enroll at the new Chase campus in Waterbury. Students from any town in Connecticut may attend any magnet school and ACES at Chase still has some open seats. Applicants can apply at aces.org/chase.” Tim Howes, Deputy Director remarked, “ACES is proud to be of service to the students, families and community of Waterbury and honored to carry on the proud tradition of the Chase Collegiate School. The future looks bright for students of ACES at Chase.”

ACES, a regional education service center founded in 1969, currently operates two other interdistrict magnet schools in Connecticut and is excited to offer a premier and national award-winning STEAM magnet program at Chase Collegiate School, ending the current cessation of classes. ACES at Chase, a public STEAM academy on a private school campus, is the next chapter in the school’s history of an innovative curriculum dating back to 1865 when the Chase Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies opened its doors. With a STEAM program, the approach of learning through science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and an array of arts programming will continue. “Chase Collegiate has a long history of providing excellent education, and ACES will be pleased to reopen those doors and continue those traditions, melding them with its own,” said ACES Executive Director, Dr. Thomas Danehy.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has been and will continue to be supportive of this re-building. They shared the following statement, "Under our Commission's merged school policy, NEASC Commission on Independent Schools will continue to accredit Chase Collegiate for the first year of transition to ACES at Chase whereupon the school will commence the process of public- school accreditation." Becoming a magnet school, a publicly funded endeavor, means that ACES at Chase will not be a tuition-based institution. Students in grades 6 - 8 from any district in Connecticut are eligible to apply, resulting in a diverse community of learners. By reestablishing itself in the City of Waterbury, ACES at Chase is once again transforming to meet the needs of students and families while maintaining the mission of educating tomorrow’s leaders and inspiring in each student a lifelong passion for learning, personal achievement, and contribution to the community. Prospective students and families can apply at aces.org/chase.

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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 and 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.

About Chase Collegiate School

With a welcoming environment, Chase will become a public STEAM Academy on a Private Campus, application-based and with rolling admissions, until all seats are filled. As part of the ACES Magnet School Parent Open Choice program, ACES at Chase can be the difference in your child’s future this academic year for students in grades 6 - 8; a premier middle school program designed for highly motivated and talented students to excel and develop their passions beyond classroom-based instruction and empower them to use technology effectively in order to become knowledgeable, capable, and ethical digital citizens in preparation for real-life situations. The scenic 47-acre campus features two recently updated academic buildings (Camp Hall & Upper School) , a theater arts/dance building (Fulkerson Arts Center), an arts annex and media center (Centennial Library), an administration building (St. Margaret’s Hall), Goss Field House, outdoor learning spaces, a residence hall, tennis courts, and soccer and baseball/softball fields (Kellogg, Templeton and Woodward). Visit www.aces.org/chase to learn more.