Smith STEM School logo
school entrance

Magnet Information

In West Hartford you have a
choice of Elementary Schools!

Take a look at our 2
magnet school options! 

The 2025-2026 Magnet AND PRE-K LOTTERY Applications are due by March 7, 2025 at 4:00pm.

2025-2026 WHPS Magnet School Application and Magnet PreK

2025-2026 Webster Hill PreKindergarten Application

Is a West Hartford magnet school right for your child?

West Hartford families are justifiably proud of the quality of their neighborhood elementary schools. So some parents wonder, why consider a magnet school? West Hartford’s two magnet elementary schools begin with the same comprehensive curriculum standards as neighborhood schools, but enrich the student experience with an inquiry based teaching and learning model. Many families find the inquiry-based model encourages children to think more creatively and independently.

In addition to the inquiry-based learning model, our magnet schools each embrace a specific learning theme. Charter Oak International Academy’s instructional philosophy is based upon the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program, which encourages students to develop a more global perspective. Florence E. Smith STEM School emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math.

If you feel your child would thrive in one of the West Hartford School System’s magnet school environments, we encourage you to explore further. Read more at our website, schedule a visit to either or both schools, or talk to someone whose child already attends a magnet school. You know your child best, so why not explore the full range of options available? Florence E. Smith STEM School and Charter Oak International Academy are available exclusively to West Hartford residents.

Magnet School Timeline for 2025-2026

  • Application process starts: January 15, 2025

  • Parent Information Meeting at Smith: February 6, 2025 at 6:30pm

  • Parent Information Meeting at Charter Oak: February 13, 2025 at 6:30pm

  • Application due: March 7, 2025 at 4:00pm

  • Lottery Results sent to parents: March 20, 2025

  • Responses to acceptance due: April 4, 2025

  • Waiting List Review - Late June and Mid-August

Frequently Asked Questions

student and mirror

 

Charter Oak
International Academy

The world is our classroom all day everyday.

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Discover the Difference at Charter Oak International Academy

Imagine a worldwide community of schools, educators and students with a shared mission to empower young people with the values, knowledge and skills to create a better and more peaceful world.   Welcome to Charter Oak International Academy, a vibrant and inclusive International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that celebrates diversity, fosters global-mindedness, and inspires lifelong learners. 

Nestled in the heart of West Hartford, we are a proud magnet school attracting families who value academic excellence, cultural understanding, diverse experiences, and community engagement. 

Here are three compelling reasons why you should choose to become a member of the Charter Oak Community:

#1 Diverse Learning Environment: Our students from diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives, enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

  • Our community represents 42 languages, making COIA the 15th most diverse elementary school in CT (out of 605 schools).
  • Our teaching staff includes multilingual educators who enrich the learning experience.
  • Daily play-based learning is featured in all of our five NAEYC-accredited preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
  • The Family Resource Center offers adult language classes, parenting workshops, and before/after-school care.
  • Specialized support for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, with sign-language interpreters in Pre-K-5 classrooms.

#2 Inquiry-Based Learning: Our students thrive in an inquiry-driven environment where curiosity and self-agency flourish.

  • Inquiry-style teaching featuring hands-on learning, questioning, and collaboration.
  • Interdisciplinary IB Units of Study integrating Literacy, Science, and Social Studies.
  • Building Thinking Classrooms mathematics approach used in all K-5 classrooms.
  • Student-Led Exhibition Projects to create meaningful change in our community.

#3 Signature Programs & Special Opportunities: Our students are given access to unique resources and programs that provide them with opportunities to engage in various areas of interest, develop unique skills, and explore new fields.

  • Foreign language instruction for Pre-K to Grade 5.
  • Student-led conferences and monthly Student-Led Assemblies focused on IB principles.
  • Free after-school programming through Explorations (two five-week sessions).
  • Suzuki Violin Lottery for students in Pre-K to Grade 5.
  • Award-winning Odyssey of the Mind team.
  • Partnership with Conard's Future Educators of Diversity student group.

By the Numbers…

  • 38% of our student population are magnet students.
  • Our Smarter Balanced State Assessment Math growth rate is 71.3% which exceeds state and district averages.
  • Our School Accountability Index has increased by 5% annually over the past two years.

Come Discover the Inquiry Way!

At Charter Oak, students learn to ask questions, think critically, and take action to improve their school, community, and the world. Let your child’s journey to global citizenship begin here.

For tours and more information, contact: 

Charter Oak International Academy

425 Oakwood Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06110

Georgina_Rivera@whps.org
860-233-8506

science experiment

Florence E. Smith
Stem School

Notice. Wonder. Explore!

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Cultivating students’ curiosity and creativity through inquiry-based learning, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The Florence E. Smith STEM School is an exemplary 21st-century learning community whose students persevere to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and learning dispositions to be responsible, productive, creative, and self-directed learners. With 21st-century skills at the heart of a STEM Education, Smith STEM School prepares all students today for the world of tomorrow no matter which career paths they follow. In addition to the district curriculum, Smith STEM School provides students with innovative learning experiences through our Habits of Mind, engineering curriculum, integration of technology, and student-centered inquiry experiences. Our inquiry-based instruction and learning empowers students by cultivating critical thinking, problem solving, perseverance and collaboration.

Smith STEM students reach beyond subject areas to challenge their minds in creative ways through:

  • Weekly science lab experiences led by our science teacher in the only elementary science lab in the district
  • Monthly student-led assemblies highlighting our Habits of Mind, student achievements and stewardship
  • Engineering is Elementary curriculum developed by the Boston Museum of Science
  • STEAM PM, our free after-school enrichment classes for Grades 3-5, infuse the arts and our Habits of Mind with hands-on, memorable experiences
  • Technology-rich classrooms that foster communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving through engineering, coding, and robotics experiences
  • Signature STEM experiences in Grades K-5 offer students engaging opportunities to apply their learning and expand their knowledge base
  • A math specialist who supports meaningful mathematics instruction that fosters student independence and allows students to construct their conceptual understanding to solve real-world problems by applying mathematical ideas
  • Bits and Bytes Computer Club led by the Conard High School for fourth-grade students
  • Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics in Grades 1-5 to encourage applied thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative decision-making
  • Yearly after-school Family STEM Night for families with engaging, interactive experiences for all ages
  • Computer Coding and Computer Science experiences at each grade level
  • Suzuki violin lessons in Pre-K to Grade 3
  • Full-day NAEYC accredited inquiry-based Pre-K
  • Long-standing partnerships with local, educational organizations such as the Connecticut Science Center, Forest Park Zoo, the Children’s Museum, and Roaring Brook Nature Center

Notice. Wonder. Explore!

For tours and more information, contact: 

Florence E. Smith STEM School

64 St. James Street
West Hartford, CT 06119

Ashley_Callan@whps.org
860-236-3315

coia outside