The district’s Welcome Center, supporting students and families, was also relocated to Bulkeley.
Hartford Public Schools is proud to announce that Bulkeley High School is back in full operation for students, Central Office administrators, and the district’s Welcome Center for families as of January 7, 2026. (In photos above and below, students, school staff, district leaders, Board members, DJ Drae Grant, and the Bulkeley Bulldog gathered for a lively re-opening pep rally in the field house to celebrate Day 1 back in their building.)
The building was renovated to “as-new condition,” with an all-new interior layout, building systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, electrical and life safety systems) and construction finishes. The renovation will allow for continued use for a minimum of 20 years before significant work is required.
“It is with great pride and joy that I welcome our students, staff, and families back to Bulkeley High School. Today marks not only the reopening of a beautifully renovated building, but also the continuation of a tradition of resilience, dedication, and excellence,” said Superintendent Andraé Townsel. (In image below, left, at the re-opening pep rally with Hartford Board of Education members, left to right, Ruth R. Fortune, Chairperson Shontá Browdy, and Second Vice-Chair Tyrone Walker.)
Bulkeley has nearly 500 students enrolled for this academic year, and will be looking to increase enrollment now that the new building is in full operation, including the headquarters for Central Office and the Welcome Center.
“This journey required many sacrifices from our Bulkeley community. Students, educators, and staff demonstrated patience, flexibility, and commitment as renovations were underway,” said Townsel. “Your perseverance ensured that we now return to a facility that reflects the strength and spirit of our school. As you walk through these halls, I hope you feel the renewed energy and promise that this space represents. Welcome back, Bulldogs!”
The total cost of this project to renovate Bulkeley High School’s building and grounds, 
including furnishings and new technology implementation, was $210 million. Completion of the construction phase was delayed – from August 2024 to January 2026 – due to the COVID pandemic and its related supply issues, as well as the need to allocate additional funding.
“After five years of steady momentum while being split across two campuses, we are thrilled to finally reunite our entire school community under one roof. This spectacular, state-of-the-art facility is a testament to the resilience and dedication our students and staff have shown throughout this transition. We have reached significant milestones while apart, and we are even more excited to see what we will achieve now that we are back together in our beautiful new school,” said Bulkeley’s Principal Matthew Espinosa (seen at right in the new field house.)
Some of the key site improvements are upgrades to parking and circulation, and the renovation or replacement of athletic fields and tennis courts. There is also a new building exterior that incorporates considerably more window area to make better use of daylight inside the building.
“Our students and staff have been looking forward to the reopening of Bulkeley for years. It's been a long time coming and we are all excited to see this day finally arrive. I can already see a blossoming sense of community forming in this new building, something we could not fully achieve while in separate campuses,” said Micquandre Wright, who is a senior at Bulkeley High School, president of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and a student representative at the Hartford Board of Education.
Micquandre Wright, Bulkeley High School senior, president of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC), and a student representative at the Hartford Board of Education (right) helps BHS Student Council President and SSAC Member David Lopez, and the high school mascot manager prep the Bulkeley Bulldog for the pep rally!
BHS student leaders welcome staff to the pep rally. Student Council member Tosh Brown, center
Founded in 1926, the school is celebrating 100 years of history in 2026. Bulkeley’s first school building was originally located on Maple Avenue, which was later converted into MD Fox Elementary School.
“The reopening of this building is a remarkable moment that represents not only a new beginning for the space itself, but also for the students, families, and staff who will pass through its doors. I'm excited and thankful to celebrate Bulkeley's 100th anniversary with my fellow students,” Wright added.
Student Council President David Lopez, center and teacher, Andrew Welch providing pep at the rally
The state, which is reimbursing 95% of the overall total project cost to the district, had approved the Bulkeley High School construction grant in 2018, with the design planning starting in November 2019.
Morgan Gardner Bulkeley, former mayor of Hartford from 1880-1888 and elected governor of Connecticut in 1888, was born on December 26, 1837, in East Haddam, Connecticut. He attended Hartford Public High School and enlisted with the 13th New York Volunteers at the start of the Civil War. In 1879, he became president of Aetna, a position he held until he died in 1922. (See: “The Names of Hartford’s Public Schools and other historical notes,” by Wilson H. Faude, provided to the Hartford Public Schools by the Hartford History Center and the Hartford Public Library in 2011.)
Students, staff, and Superintendent participated in fun and games, like Tug O' War
Please join us at Bulkeley High School at 330 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT on Saturday, January 24, from 10am to 1pm for the 12th Annual Hartford Public Schools Education Expo where families can explore schools and careers, receive application assistance, meet community partners including the Hartford Promise, and more.