Press Releases

ACES at Chase Expanding to High School (9th Grade) for 24-25 School Year

April 4th, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Hamden, CT – April 2, 2024) Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is proud to announce an exciting development in its educational offerings. Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic school year, ACES at Chase will embark on a transformative grade level expansion, initially incorporating the ninth grade into its curriculum, with plans to extend through the twelfth grade in subsequent years.

Located at 565 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT, ACES at Chase has evolved from its inception to become a beacon of innovation and excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. The campus, previously known as Chase Collegiate, was rebranded in Fall 2021 as a Public STEAM Academy on a Private Campus. This change followed a significant accolade in 2020, when it was honored with a Merit Award for Distinction by the Magnet Schools of America. In 2024, ACES at Chase was further honored as a Magnet Schools of America National School of Excellence. The campus has since undergone substantial renovations and expansion to support its transition from a sixth-eighth to a comprehensive ninth-twelfth grade educational model.

The initial phase of this expansion will see the introduction of the ninth grade in the fall of 2024, designed to accommodate 125 students. This incremental approach will continue annually until the full high school framework (ninth-twelfth grades) is established, with the final structure expected to be completed in the 2027-2028 school year. Students advancing from eighth to ninth grade at ACES at Chase next year will have the unique opportunity to be pioneers in this innovative educational model, setting a standard for future generations.

“Congratulations to ACES at Chase. The expansion to include high school is an exciting development that will allow students to seamlessly transition from middle school to high school within the beautiful Chase campus,” says the City of Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski. “This expansion will help the students maintain academic momentum ensuring a smoother progression through those crucial teenage years.”

The upcoming expansion signifies a pivotal moment for ACES, enabling the extension of its nationally recognized and award-winning STEAM Magnet Program to higher-grade levels. The program's unique approach, integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, will now benefit students beyond the 8th grade, fostering a more comprehensive educational journey.

“We stand at the threshold of an exciting new chapter for ACES at Chase, one that will significantly broaden our horizons and deepen our impact on education within our community,” says Dr. Thomas M. Danehy, Executive Director of ACES. “By embracing this growth, we are not only expanding our physical boundaries but also the opportunities for our students to explore, innovate, and excel. We are immensely proud to embark on this journey, confident in the knowledge that we are cultivating a future where every student has the tools, support, and inspiration to reach their fullest potential."

ACES at Chase is committed to this gradual yet significant transformation, underscoring its dedication to providing a dynamic and enriching educational environment. Through this expansion, ACES aims to cultivate a legacy of excellence and innovation in STEAM education for years to come.

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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.