U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley visited the Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven on March 19. His visit celebrated the partnerships between New Haven Public Schools and Yale, especially the partnership between Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School and the School of Music.
During his stay at the high school, Coop students and some of the Yale students who serve as their mentors performed jazz and classical pieces. President Richard C. Levin, School of Music Dean Robert Blocker, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo spoke, and Riley delivered a keynote address.
The School of Music became involved with Coop High School in 1996. Through individual relationships and mentoring sessions, Yale students and faculty share their expertise and love of music with the high school musicians. The Yale students teach private lessons, assist the instrumental music teachers and work with academic subject teachers on integrating music into the curriculum. Classes with visiting artists and Yale faculty, as well as tickets to concerts at the University, are regular features of the program. The School of Music also runs professional development seminars on an integrated curriculum for the faculty of Coop High School and a music day camp for students during their February vacation.
The nearly 400 students who attend Coop High School come from many school districts in the Greater New Haven area and as far away as Litchfield and Fairfield. The mission of the school, which is located at 444 Orange St., is to offer an arts-focused curriculum within a comprehensive college preparative program. Fully 90 percent of Coop graduates go on to college.
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