[4] Hartford Public High School was funded in large part by the will of Governor Edward Hopkins in 1657.

Due to the advent of war during the early 20th century, Hartford's population boomed which led to the opening of many public high schools during the mid-century.

[6] The Sheff v. O'Neill Connecticut Supreme Court decision in 1996 concluded that school districting based on town boundary lines was unconstitutional and led to a large disparity in racial and ethnic minorities in Hartford Public High Schools.

[7] In 1997, state legislature passed An Act Enhancing Educational Choices and Opportunities,[8] which created inter-district magnet schools to preserve equal educational opportunity with racial and ethnic balance in Hartford.

Magnet Hartford public schools were 31% African-American, 38% Hispanic, 20% White, 7% Asian, and 4% other populations.