Best Public Schools in Canterbury, CT

The city of Canterbury, Connecticut is home to two schools - Canterbury Elementary School and Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School. While both schools serve the Canterbury School District, the data reveals that Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School is the standout performer, outranking the elementary school on key metrics like test scores and statewide rankings.

Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School boasts a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating stronger overall performance compared to the 2-star rating of Canterbury Elementary School. The middle school consistently outperforms the state and district averages on SBAC English Language Arts and Math assessments, with 61.4% of 6th graders achieving proficiency or better in ELA, compared to just 48.1% statewide. In contrast, Canterbury Elementary School's test scores are more mixed, with some grades exceeding state and district benchmarks while others fall behind.

While the two schools have relatively similar racial demographics, with a majority white student population, the middle school serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this, the middle school spends more per student and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio, suggesting that it is effectively supporting and educating its more diverse student body. These factors, combined with the middle school's stronger academic outcomes, make it the clear standout institution in the Canterbury school system.