Businessman Daniel Hand, a native of Madison, funded construction of a high school for the city in 1884 at the price of $15,000 and relinquished property ownership to the local government.

Under the name of Hand Academy, it served the city until 1921, when the building was torn down and a schoolhouse for all grades was built.

[2] Daniel Hand athletic team's mascot are the Tigers and compete in the Southern Connecticut Conference.

[19] VIBE has won regional-level championships before,[20] and is regarded as one of the most consistently successful choirs in New England.

[21] The program has also hosted an annual competition, the Connecticut Classic, which has drawn choirs from as far as Mississippi and California.