Putnam Science Academy, a prestigious private high school in Putnam, Connecticut, announced on Sunday that it would immediately shut down its day and boarding programs.
President Tieqiang Ding explained that the closure was driven by mounting financial deficits, the loss of state authorization and the revocation of accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
The school’s website now displays only a maintenance notice, leaving families and partners without official information about the institution’s future.
The Rise and Fall of a Basketball Dynasty
For more than a decade the Mustangs claimed five national prep school championships in the last nine years, produced six NBA players and earned a reputation that attracted top recruits.
Under Coach Tom Espinosa the program reached the Final Four of the last ten national tournaments and, in 2022, the school joined the Overtime Elite league, the most visible platform for elite high school talent.
The basketball program’s success had been a cornerstone of the school’s identity, drawing attention from scouts, media and alumni who celebrated the Mustangs’ achievements.
However, the financial strain behind the scenes was severe. Faculty members had gone weeks without pay, and by mid‑April teachers received their final salaries before the school announced its shutdown.
State officials responded swiftly. The Connecticut Department of Banking issued a cease‑and‑desist order, accusing Ding and his wife Hong Fang of misleading investors, while the Department of Labor opened an investigation into multiple wage‑theft complaints.
Accreditation was withdrawn in November, stripping the school of its state authorization and effectively ending its ability to operate legally.
Community members expressed shock and frustration, questioning the timing of the closure and the lack of a transition plan for students and staff.
The school’s history dates back to 1928 when the building on Maple Street opened as an all‑girls Catholic academy before being repurposed as a co‑educational institution.
Although the basketball program will discontinue, its legacy lives on through the alumni who have progressed to Division I colleges and the few who have entered the NBA.