As one of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut is home to many historic buildings, from libraries to restaurants to schools – and that does not just apply to the state’s many longstanding colleges and universities. Connecticut also has various elementary and high schools that were founded centuries ago.
In fact, the state’s oldest public high school was founded almost 200 years ago. Established in 1847, Hartford Public High School in Hartford is still operating as a high school today.
Here’s the story of the first high school in Connecticut.
History of Hartford Public High School
According to the school’s website, the founding of Hartford Public High School goes back to the mid-1600s, when Hartford founder Rev. Thomas Hooker hosted classes for young men in his house on Prospect Street.
In 1657, Gov. Edward Hopkins left funds in his will for a free school in Hartford, but it took more than 100 years for a high school to start. The First School Society eventually proposed forming a high school in 1839, and on Dec. 1, 1847, Hartford Public High School was officially dedicated by Henry Barnard and Rev. Horace Bushnell.
Over the years, the high school has had many different buildings, eventually settling at its current location on Forest Street in 1963. Today, Hartford Public High serves about 700 students across grades 9-12, and a museum on Forest Street preserves the legacy of the oldest high school in the state.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: What is CT’s oldest high school? The history of Hartford Public High
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