Best school districts in Connecticut

Written by:
June 28, 2022
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Best school districts in Connecticut

A good school can lead to a lifetime of opportunities. Myriad data shows that lifetime earnings dramatically increase with every degree obtained. Bachelor’s degree holders will earn an average of roughly $26,000 more each year than high school graduates. And for those who decide that pursuing a college degree is not the best postsecondary option, a good school will provide students with the tools and support to make that choice, and the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

For many families, the school district is a top criteria when deciding where to buy a home. But this consideration and ability to choose is not a luxury all families can afford, especially in today’s wildly competitive housing market.

One important proxy of a quality education is per-student spending. According to the most recent Census data available, the national average per-pupil expenditure in fiscal year 2019 was $13,187. Several recent studies suggest that increased spending per student correlates with higher academic achievement, particularly in districts serving predominantly low-income students. Since public schools are largely funded by property taxes, schools in low-income areas suffer the most from a lack of funding for critical expenditures like staff salaries and benefits, transportation, instructional resources, and support services.

There are more than 13,000 school districts in the U.S., each one slightly different, for better or worse, than the next. However, several common denominators exist and, when compared, can serve as indicators of what makes an impactful district.

Stacker compiled a list of the best school districts in Connecticut using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks school districts based on a variety of criteria including academics (SAT/ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, expenses per student, and access to extracurricular activities.

#10. Amity Regional School District No. 5 (Woodbridge)
- Number of schools: 3 (2,168 students)
- Graduation rate: 96% (82% reading proficient and 73% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $74,409 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

#9. Weston School District (Weston)
- Number of schools: 4 (2,282 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (78% reading proficient and 74% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $84,236 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

#8. Ridgefield School District (Ridgefield)
- Number of schools: 9 (4,679 students)
- Graduation rate: 95% (85% reading proficient and 78% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $82,613 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

#7. Farmington School District (Farmington)
- Number of schools: 7 (4,149 students)
- Graduation rate: 99% (82% reading proficient and 73% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $73,781 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

#6. Wilton Public Schools (Wilton)
- Number of schools: 4 (3,843 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (83% reading proficient and 75% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $87,330 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

#5. Glastonbury Public Schools (Glastonbury)
- Number of schools: 8 (5,814 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (78% reading proficient and 75% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $79,170 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

#4. Greenwich School District (Greenwich)
- Number of schools: 15 (9,015 students)
- Graduation rate: 96% (78% reading proficient and 71% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $87,595 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

#3. Darien School District (Darien)
- Number of schools: 7 (4,737 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (85% reading proficient and 85% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $70,414 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

#2. Westport School District (Westport)
- Number of schools: 7 (5,312 students)
- Graduation rate: 99% (85% reading proficient and 82% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $78,283 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

#1. New Canaan School District (New Canaan)
- Number of schools: 5 (4,208 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (90% reading proficient and 87% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $85,717 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

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