Schools

Groton's Newest School To Celebrate Upcoming Opening

Marine Magnet High School Opens For Business Aug. 31

After months of waiting, the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut will open in an official ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. on Aug. 24.

Marine Magnet is built on the site of former Eastern Point Elementary School. Construction for the school received $27 million in state funding in 1999.

The high school will prepare students for a career or college study in the marine science field. It will have its own aquaculture facility.

Find out what's happening in Grotonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school is not accredited, but will being the two-year process for membership with NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) upon its open. It is already an associate member of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools For Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

Students attending Marine Magnet will be given an integrated and immersive education. Students will spend half of their instructional time in general studies courses (English, math, social studies, and Spanish) and half of their time in marine studies and field immersion.

Find out what's happening in Grotonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school is partnered with a number of marine groups in the region, including Project Oceanology, UConn at Avery Point, and the Mystic Seaport.

It will have access to a 45-acre oyster bed in the Long Island Sound— donated by Groton’s own Bill Spicer.

The school opens for 250 freshmen and sophomore applicants selected through a random lottery. They will be served by 18 faculty members. Marine Magnet will be fully operational in 2013 with 60 students enrolled per grade.

Students enrolled this fall remain eligible for sports programs at their sending high schools. Marine Magnet will offer sailing, rowing, and other ecological activities to its students, however.

“We are extremely excited to begin the school year,” said newly appointed director of the school, Nicholas Spera. “Right now we are certainly busy.”

School starts August 31.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here