Application

The Academic Academy is a scholastically challenging program designed for excelling students in grades 4-8. The full-day program, which began during the 2019-2020 school year, is housed within Wallace Middle School, encompassing the school within a school model. Students who have been accepted into the Academic Academy completed an extensive process which included writing an essay and completing a formal interview with a panel of district officials. Each student selected demonstrated their desire and ability to enter a classroom with great demands and a higher level of instruction.

All excelling Waterbury students and Waterbury residents who will be enrolled in grades 4-8 during the 2023-24 school year are encouraged to apply. (For example, current 3rd-grade students can apply today to attend 4th grade at the Academy in 2023-24).

Yes - Bussing is provided to all scholars in grades 4-8 regardless of where they live in Waterbury. Please note, scholars who live in the Wallace district will ride general Wallace busses and scholars who live out of the Wallace district will ride Academy busses.

Yes. The Academic Academy offers after-school programming 4 days a week starting October/November. A mentoring program is also available for 4th and 5th-grade students from 11:30-2:20 on Wednesdays.

a. Students will participate in an enrichment based learning model
b. Access to foreign language (Spanish)
c. Above grade-level instruction for students
d. Access to advanced fine arts including musicals
e. School counseling
f. Computer/Technology Education

Yes - Students in grades 6-8 have the opportunity to try out for all middle school sports.

No. Waterbury Public School scholars and Waterbury residents in grades 4-8 qualify for application primarily through high scores in achievement and aptitude. However, the demonstration of gifts and talents as recognized by the scholar’s current teachers, or the scholars themselves is also considered. This is determined by performance on district/state/national standardized tests, acknowledgment and recommendation from the scholar’s current teacher, and/or a written recommendation by the scholar him/herself as to why they are a strong candidate.

The Academic Academy follows a school within a school model. The Academy is nestled in a wing of Wallace Middle School. Students are contained within the Academy for all academic courses, lunch, and most unified arts classes. Check out our virtual tour!

No. The Academic Academy is free to all students.

Absolutely!