Family Update April 201: Hybrid Learning Begins April 19. 9th and 10th graders whose families have opted into hybrid learning will return to campus 4 days each week. 11th grade hybrid students will attend school in person Monday and Tuesday, and 12th grade hybrid students will come to campus Thursdays and Fridays. We will continue with What You Need Wednesdays. See a PRESENTATION with additional details.
Family Update March 2021: Spring Hybrid Learning. We are excited to share that Common Ground is gearing up for a return to hybrid learning, starting on Monday, April 19th, right after our April vacation. Here are the PRESENTATION and TOWN HALL RECORDING regarding our spring hybrid model.
Have questions about our plans for the spring? Reach out to our school director, Monica Maccera Filppu, at monica.maccerafilppu@nhep.com, or call our front office at 203.389.4333.
Key Links
- Buzz (Our Course Management System)
- Weekly School Schedule
- Student Handbook
- School calendar (In English & En Espanol).
- Universal free meals program (in English & En Espanol)
Reopening Plans

Common Ground’s lottery, and the New Haven Magnet School Lottery, have now closed for applicants for the 2021-22 school year. We have offered seats to incoming students, and have begun the process of registering and welcoming these new students.
Have questions about the lottery, or want to join the waiting list? Visit our Become a Student page, or contact Sharyn Lopez, Manager – Student Engagement & Out of School Programs, at 203.389.4333 x1206 or by email.
Need help getting your accepted student registered? Reach out to our main office at 203.389.4333, or contact Bev Greene, Director of Operations, at Bev.Greene@nhep.com.
You can also use the links below to learn more about our school …
- Visit us & Apply
- How is Common Ground Different?
- Our Classes & Curriculum
- Every Student Leads: POWER
- Outside the Classroom: After-School Programs
- College Success
- Schedule & Calendar
- Are you an athlete? Scientist? Activist? Artist? Entrepreneur? Environmental Leader? Find out how CG can help you blaze your path.
Please reach out, and we will help answer your questions.
Main Number: 203.389.4333
Complete Teachers & Staff List
Main Office
- Ana Rosa, x1202, Office Manager,Email
- Iris Jimenez, Educational Aide, x1200, Email
- Monica Maccera Filppu, Executive Director & Interim School Director, x1216 Email
Student Support
- Monique Frasier, Assistant Director x1218, Email
- Victor Rios, Student Support Coordinator x1218, Email
- Miriam Sheffield, Student Affairs Assistant x1207, Email
- Keith Riley, School Nurse x1205, Email
Click here for more Covid related info and other Student Health related documents and information.
In each of the last 5 years, between 97% and 100% of our graduates were accepted to college. Our 4-year graduation rates significantly exceeded the state average in 4 of the 5 last school years. Recent Common Ground 9th and 10th graders have made greater gains in reading, writing, and math than 90 or more percent of their peers across the country, according to results of the NWEA MAP. Common Ground was the state’s first U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and a recipient of many awards and grants in recognition of our work.

Common Ground’s curriculum combines rigorous high academic standards for all, responsive relationships with adults and peers who really care, relevant, real-world learning that’s rooted in the community and environment, and real roles and rights for students. Imagine studying …
- Math while you … decide what should be planted on Common Ground’s farm to maximize production, nutrition, taste, and cultural relevance.
- Science while you … turn what you are learning about climate change into beautiful paintings, spoken word, and graffiti art
- English while you … work with professional actors to write and perform plays about social justice issues that matter to you.
Recent Blog Posts about the High School
Meet Shauntasia Hicks, A New Member of Our Student Pathways Team
By Destiny Burruss, Yadira Midgette, Christian Ansley-Reis, Tifannie Reyes, Chris Rodriguez & Joel Tolman This Spring, we added a new member to our student pathways team: Shauntasia Hicks. Shauntasia is helping to coordinate Common Ground's
Black History Month, Class Openers and Senior Capstone: An Interview with Teachers Candi Fulcher and Win Vitkowsky
Senior Capstone is a graduation requirement course where students join community partners to support local social/environmental justice initiatives. Every week the class begins with an opener that sets the tone for group conversation. In honor
What You Need Wednesdays: High School Innovation
Reflecting on Wednesday, January 13th: By Joel Tolman A screen shot from a recent virtual workshop on comic book character drawing by CG alumn Marcel Farrel In December, CGHS recognized that our students