About Act

ACT is a high school option available to all Connecticut high school students. In order to attend ACT, you must be a resident of a Connecticut town and registered as a student in that town. A number of member districts (partners) have agreed to provide a limited number of seats for the students in their town to attend ACT. ACT's member districts are: Eastford, Killingly, Norwich, Plainfield, Putnam, Stafford, Windham and Woodstock.

ACT offers pathways that focus on seven arts areas: Acting, Creative Writing, Dance, Integrated Arts & Management, Media Arts, Music and Technical Theater (sets, lighting and costuming).

Students will be asked to select one pathway. However, electives along each pathway are open to all students.

ACT has a three-part application process. All prospective students must complete a shadow day, an application and an audition. Once an applicant completes all three they will be eligible for enrollment. A lottery process will go into effect if the number of applicants is greater than the number of seats available.

Transportation services look different for each of ACT’s sending towns. For the upcoming school year, transportation routes are scheduled over the summer and locations are subject to change due to enrollment.

On Monday through Thursday, the school day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Friday school hours are from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

On average, class sizes are between 10 and 12 students. Physical Education classes are typically larger, and more specialized or advanced classes are often smaller.

This year, hot lunch is available for free to all ACT students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). ACT also offers free breakfast to all students between 8 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Breakfast offerings are listed on the lunch menu.

No. However, ACT does have a dress code. As stated in the ACT Student Handbook, “Students’ attire should be appropriate for the school day and academic environment.  Clothing should not be distracting or cause an interruption of learning. The following items are not permitted: flip-flops, slippers, pajama pants, strapless tops/dresses, spaghetti strap tops without a cardigan/sweater to cover, and any other revealing item of clothing. Tank top straps must meet the 'three finger’ rule. Shorts, skirts and dresses must reach fingertips when arms are placed at the students' sides. No hats or head coverings (except for religious reasons). Students should keep a change of clothes in their lockers for P.E. class, along with a sweatshirt as the building temperature fluctuates greatly.”

While ACT does not offer a visual art pathway, there are classes where students can use and improve on their visual art skills. These courses include Drawing for Stage, Costume Art, Photoshop and Stop Animation. ACT also offers after-school visual arts for those students who wish to further explore that area of interest.