Connecticut launches first AI-focused magnet high school this fall

Goodwin University has broken ground on RiverTech, Connecticut‘s first technology magnet school, which will offer specialized programs in AI, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. The four-year high school program will begin serving freshmen this fall and aims to address workforce needs at major Connecticut manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney while expanding the state’s magnet school network established through the landmark Sheff v. O’Neill civil rights case.

What you should know: RiverTech represents a significant expansion of Connecticut’s School Choice program, which emerged from a successful civil rights lawsuit challenging racial discrimination in public education.

• The school will occupy a 90,000-square-foot, four-story building scheduled for completion next year, featuring what officials describe as unique facilities including a fourth-floor replica of Mars’ surface for astronaut training simulations.
• Students will focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, computer science, and advanced manufacturing, with partnerships being developed with major Connecticut manufacturers for internships and pre-apprenticeships.
• Goodwin University operates what President Mark Scheinberg claims is the only university-owned and managed public school system in the country.

The big picture: The school’s launch comes at a time when Connecticut’s Democratic education initiatives face national scrutiny, but supporters view it as evidence of the state’s continued commitment to public education innovation.

• “Despite what’s going on at the national level, the commitment to public education in Connecticut continues,” said Elizabeth Horton Sheff, the plaintiff behind the original Sheff v. O’Neill case.
• The Greater Hartford region has built an extensive network of specialized magnet schools since the Sheff victory, with RiverTech adding to this infrastructure.

What they’re saying: Students and local officials express enthusiasm about the school’s potential to prepare workers for regional manufacturing needs.

• “I finally found something that truly excites me: engineering. I’m ready to get hands-on experience and certifications to set myself up for a stable career in a field that’s only going to keep growing,” said incoming freshman Zaidyn Williams of East Hartford, who’s particularly interested in aerospace engineering.
• East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin, a Goodwin graduate, emphasized the school’s role in workforce development: “Before this campus was what it is today, this was an industrial wasteland.”

Why this matters: The school addresses a critical need for skilled technology workers in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector while providing students with direct pathways to stable careers in growing fields like AI and cybersecurity.

• RiverTech transforms what was once described as an “industrial wasteland” into a vibrant educational hub while restoring community access to the Connecticut River.
• The initiative demonstrates how targeted education programs can bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands, particularly in aerospace and advanced manufacturing where companies like Pratt & Whitney face ongoing workforce challenges.