Best Public Schools in New Haven, CT

The city of New Haven, Connecticut is home to a diverse array of 42 schools, including 29 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 9 high schools, and 3 alternative schools. These schools serve a student population with a high percentage of Hispanic and African American students, and many face challenges related to economic disadvantage, with a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Some standout schools in the district include Worthington Hooker School, an elementary school that consistently performs well above the district and state averages across various test subjects and grade levels, and Amistad Academy, a public charter school serving grades K-12 that demonstrates strong academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts. Another high-performing school is Elm City Montessori School, a public charter elementary school with a unique Montessori-based approach.

Despite the relatively high spending per student across the district, which ranges from $9,922 to $20,017, the academic performance in many schools remains below the state average, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as teacher quality, curriculum, and school leadership, may play a significant role in student outcomes. The data also reveals stark performance disparities between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools, with some schools demonstrating proficiency rates more than 50 percentage points higher than others. This underscores the need for targeted interventions and support to address these inequities and ensure all students in the New Haven School District have access to a high-quality education.