Breakthrough Magnet School South, one of Hartford's highest performing schools, is the first of only two magnet schools in the nation whose theme is character education/SEL, and now, is the first and only school in Connecticut to provide Mindfulness training to all students. BMSS provides a rigorous and authentic learning experience in which students use real purposes and audiences as catalysts for the development of curricular skills. They gain knowledge, utilize higher order thinking, exercise body and mind, and explore the arts, technology and social values. We have added a secondary theme of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) with hands-on, real-life learning opportunities to enrich our students & push their thinking! We also have some multi-age classrooms (similar to a Montessori approach), with 3 & 4 year olds together in PreK, K & 1st graders together, 2nd & 3rd graders, 4th & 5th graders together, and 7th & 8th graders together in middle school.

Magnet School Theme:
Character Education/SEL/Leadership & S.T.E.A.M. (secondary theme)

School Enrollment:

• 320 students in grades PreK3 through 8th grade

• Students reside in Hartford, as well as over 25 different suburban towns/cities

• Global school representing over 25 different countries/cultures

School Hours:

Monday -Friday
PreK3 - Gr. 8: 8:40 A.M. - 3:50 P.M (FULL DAY PRE-K3 is NEW this year!)
Grab & Go Breakfast served in classrooms starting at 8:30 am

OPMAD (Organized Parents Make a Difference) run our before and aftercare and PreK3 extended day programs.

Before care (PreK3-8th grade)
7:15 am - 8:30 am

Aftercare (PreK3-8th grade)
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm

*On Early Dismissal Days (typically once a month), aftercare program will run from 12:30-6:00 pm.

School Uniforms:

• PreK-Gr. 5: cobalt blue or white collared shirt with school logo

• Gr. 6-8: burgundy or gray collared shirt with school logo

• Bottoms can be khaki, navy or black. More uniform information on Dress Code page (under Parents tab).

Highlights:

• Accolades: Recognized by Magnet Schools of America as a School of Excellence for 12 years, based on academics, diversity, and innovation. Breakthrough Magnet School South was named #1 magnet school in the country by Magnet Schools of America in 2015, as well as a Teach For America School To Learn From in 2015!

• Curriculum: All students participate in a weekly whole school (or grade level) community meeting/town hall meeting featuring guest speakers, student-led presentations, student celebrations & more. Other school-wide offerings include Spanish instruction (starting in PK), Mindfulness (both in our Mindfulness Room, as well as in classrooms), S.T.E.A.M., and weekly character/SEL lessons. We have some multi-age classrooms (similar to a Montessori model).

• Extracurricular/Enrichment Activities: Breakthrough Magnet School South features enrichment programs for all grades before, during and after the school day, such as Girl Scouts, 2-4-1 Sports sampling before school program, gardening club, morning running club, Robotics club, Elementary & Middle School Student Council, K-3 Mini-Cheer, Elementary Dance Club, after-school tutoring, community service opportunities, Women's Empowerment Group, 2-4-1 Girls' Leadership Group, middle school sports (boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls & boys basketball, co-ed flag football, co-ed e-gaming, and cheerleading), middle school chorus & rock band, and Art mural club.

• Technology: BMSS has a device for every student - iPads in the PreK classrooms and Chromebooks for Gr. K-8. Every elementary classroom also has a full-working kitchen that can be utilized for cooking enrichment activities.

• Gardening: Our K-3 classrooms each have a outdoor garden plot outside their classrooms on the patio, and our Gr. 4-8 students use our rooftop garden with greenhouse. Additionally, we have a Mindfulness Garden on our playground, and will be adding some more gardening space in our outdoor amphitheater space as well.