Watkinson School

Watkinson School is a private coeducational day school in Hartford, Connecticut. Watkinson is situated on Bloomfield Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, adjacent to the University of Hartford and serves students from sixth through 12th grade. Watkinson also offers a postgraduate option, called The Academy at Watkinson, which allows students who have just graduated from high school to spend an additional year taking courses at Watkinson as well as the University of Hartford. Watkinson is the only private school located within the city limits of Hartford.

Currently Watkinson enrolls 250 students who come from 37 towns all around the Greater Hartford and Pioneer Valley area.

Watkinson has a Creative Arts Program (CAP) whose purpose is to foster creativity in young artists. This program is unique in that students receive a separate diploma denoting their commitment to the arts. This program is run by teacher Dr. Karen Bovard. A student may join this program any time between the beginning of their freshman year and the end of their sophomore year (so that they can complete the requirement of 2 full years in the program necessary to receive the diploma)

In 2007 Watkinson created a Global Studies Program which discusses the United States relationship with the rest of the World. This program is run by Dr. Christopher Doyle. Students generally apply for this program in their sophomore year, starting work for it in their junior year.

Both programs are competitive to get into and require an application process. Once the student has graduated, that student in either program will receive two diplomas. One for high school in general, and one for the program they had just completed. Students may participate in both CAP and Global Studies if they wish.

Watkinson is a founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools. It is one of only five schools to be named a Lead School for the Coalition of Essential Schools.