Magnet Schools

The Greenwich Board of Education offers four magnet elementary schools and one magnet middle school that accept students through an application process. The magnet school program is designed to serve three purposes:

To advance and enhance student achievement by providing parents and students with educational options. Each magnet school offers a range of distinct education programs. Some emphasize particular academic subjects, while others use specific instructional approaches. Parents are encouraged to apply to those schools that they believe best meet the needs and interests of their children.
To support the racial, ethnic, and economic diversity of all of the district's schools while complying to racial balance requirements established by the Connecticut legislature and the State Board of Education; and,
To optimize the use of school facilities by balancing the distribution of students among elementary schools.

Programs and Services: GPS elementary and middle magnet schools provide the same curriculum, programs and services as all other Greenwich public elementary/middle schools. In addition, magnet schools offer a particular instructional framework and/or features that are unique to the individual schools.

2025-2026 note: Western Middle School will not be accepting new students through the magnet program (unless they have a sibling already attending), due to temporary capacity challenges.

Lottery Process: Each of the GPS magnet schools is also a neighborhood school, with students enrolled from within the designated attendance area. A limited number of magnet seats are available by application for students residing outside the magnet schools’ attendance areas. The magnet school application deadline is February 2, 2025.

If more applications are received than there are seats available, a lottery is conducted. K-8 magnet applications must be received online by February 2, 2025 in order to be included in the lottery for the 2025-2026 school year. Late applications will be considered only after all lottery applications have been placed and if there is still availability.

Only one application per student can be submitted although you may list up to three magnet preferences. Lottery placement results will be emailed by February 28, 2025. (If you are looking for the preschool program, visit the GPS Preschool page for their separate application process.)

Applicant Eligibility: Any current resident of the Town of Greenwich with school-age children is eligible to apply to a GPS magnet school. Non-resident Town of Greenwich (TOG) employees are also eligible to apply to GPS magnet schools. Non-resident TOG employee applications will be considered after Greenwich resident applications are filled.

To learn more about the magnet school application process and the magnet programs at each school:

explore the Magnet School brochure
visit the District and School web sites
attend a Magnet School Virtual Open House in January 2025
contact a magnet school principal

Magnet applications for the 2025-26 School Year must be received by February 2, 2025 to be included in the lottery.

GPS Magnet Application for 2025-2026

2025-2026 Open House Schedule for Magnet Schools

GPS Magnet Schools and Enrollment Distribution among Schools Regulation

Magnet Schools:

Hamilton Avenue School (Preschool-Grade 5)

Hamilton Avenue School (HAS) is the District’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) school. STEAM education ignites interest and uses an inquiry approach to develop the skills and knowledge that prepares students for expanding college and career opportunities. Among the more recently upgraded schools to become a state-of-the-art building with a design lab, HAS was one of the first Greenwich Public Schools to launch a Digital Learning Environment. HAS offers world language instruction in Spanish in grades K-5, Suzuki Violin (PreK-5), and a smaller average class sizes in grades K and 1.

The International School at Dundee (Kindergarten - Grade 5)

In 2000, The International School at Dundee (ISD) was the first magnet school to open in Greenwich and chose the International Baccalaureate Program as its magnet theme. The school was one of the first elementary schools in the country to become an authorized IB school. It has continued to successfully implement the program, which focuses on the development of the whole child and incorporates the teaching of the GPS curriculum through an inquiry-based framework. A Connecticut School of Distinction, ISD offers world language instruction in Spanish in grades K-5, as well as grade level partnerships with highly regarded institutions, such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Audubon Center.

Julian Curtiss School (Kindergarten - Grade 5)

Julian Curtiss School (JCS) offers world language instruction in grades K-5 in either Spanish or French and has been described as “the little United Nations School of Greenwich” in The New York Times. The student body and staff represent nearly 60 different countries and 30 different languages.This diversity is recognized and celebrated as a source of strength and a reflection of the world. Building on the strength of this international foundation, JCS provides a rigorous academic curriculum, a strong social-emotional learning framework in a personalized learning environment and partnerships with many local community organizations.

New Lebanon School (Kindergarten - Grade 5)

New Lebanon School (NLS) is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme, and was named a 2022 School of Distinction - High Growth (High Needs Students) - ELA by the Connecticut State Department of Education. Opened in 2019, the state-of-art award-winning building is Leadership in Energy & Development Design Gold-Certified and the envy of the community, complete with a wonderful media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, playground, and other support spaces for children, teachers, and school administration. The magnet program presents the GPS curriculum in a holistic, inquiry-based framework, making connections among subject areas with an emphasis on global perspectives. NLS offers world language instruction in Spanish in grades K-5, Teachers College Columbia University Reading and Writing Workshop, and partnerships with many great local community organizations

Western Middle School (Grade 6-8)

Western Middle School is an ‘AVID Schoolwide’ middle school. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination is a college readiness and executive functioning program designed to help all students achieve their goals and reach their full academic potential. Your child will be exposed to a variety of instructional methods, including critical reading strategies, focused note-taking, Socratic Seminars and Philosophical Chairs. These strategies are designed to help students grow as readers, thinkers, collaborators and writers. In addition, students will be taught a variety of executive functioning skills to help them learn how to plan and prioritize tasks, organize their thoughts and materials and reflect on their learning and goals. Students will be exposed to a variety of career and college opportunities, set long term and short term goals and work on progress monitoring.

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