Awards

The R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts was the Winner of the Hartford Magazine 2015 Best Of Reader’s Poll for the best magnet school in Hartford, as well as the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Arts Innovation Award from the Arts School Network, an organization that provides support to arts-based schools around the world. Over the years, our students have performed in high profile events such as with Roger Waters at Madison Square Garden for the Superstorm Sandy Relief Concert, in Joseph Albano’s Nutcracker, Litchfield Jazz Camp, Hartt School of Music Ensembles, the Hartford Foundation’s Annual Donor Recognition Dinner, Aetna flashmob, J Grooves Jazz Band, at the Connecticut Convention Center for the “Go Red for Women” event, and numerous other Broadway-style plays and shows.

Admission

There is no performing arts criteria for participation. All participants are accepted for enrollment through a random lottery process completed by the Regional School Choice Office. For the 2017-2018 school year, KMSPA had over 2,800 applications for approximately 150 available seats.

Demographics

Each school year, KMSPA enrolls approximately 900 public school students between the grades of PK4 to 12. Students come from over 47 zip codes including rural, suburban, and urban communities. 40% of the student body is from Hartford. Although 85% of students qualify for free lunch, all KMSPA students receive free lunch under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The diverse student body includes 39% of students who are Hispanic or Latino and speak Spanish, 34% who are Black or African American, and 25% of students who are Caucasian. The remaining 2% of the student population includes students who are listed as Native American, Asian or other.

Contact

Principal:
Ken O’Brien
Email:
ken.obrien@hartfordschools.org
Phone:
860-695-4140
Address:
65 Van Block Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 (PK-8)
245 Locust Street, Hartford, CT 06106 (9-12)