Best high schools for sports in Connecticut
More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.
The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.
High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.
Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.
Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Connecticut using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.
#25. Suffield High School
- City: West Suffield
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#24. Immaculate High School
- City: Danbury
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
#23. Cheshire High School
- City: Cheshire
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#22. East Catholic High School
- City: Manchester
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#21. Waterford High School
- City: Waterford
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#20. Mark T. Sheehan High School
- City: Wallingford
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#19. Haddam-Killingworth High School
- City: Higganum
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#18. Norwich Free Academy
- City: Norwich
- Type: Private
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#17. Masuk High School
- City: Monroe
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#16. Staples High School
- City: Westport
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#15. Windsor High School
- City: Windsor
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#14. Mercy High School
- City: Middletown
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Girls
- Overall Niche grade: A
#13. Granby Memorial High School
- City: Granby
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#12. Fairfield College Preparatory School
- City: Fairfield
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A
#11. Ridgefield High School
- City: Ridgefield
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#10. East Lyme High School
- City: East Lyme
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#9. Newtown High School
- City: Sandy Hook
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#8. Southington High School
- City: Southington
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#7. Notre Dame High School
- City: West Haven
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A
#6. New Canaan High School
- City: New Canaan
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#5. Xavier High School
- City: Middletown
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A
#4. Daniel Hand High School
- City: Madison
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#3. Darien High School
- City: Darien
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#2. St. Joseph High School
- City: Trumbull
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
#1. Glastonbury High School
- City: Glastonbury
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
