Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Q: Is Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School a good school?

Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School ranks 220 th of 497 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School is an elementary school in Groton, Connecticut, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Groton School District. The school has a diverse student population, with a mix of White, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students.

Academically, Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School has shown mixed performance. While its 5th-grade English Language Arts and Science proficiency rates are higher than the district and state, its 3rd and 4th-grade English Language Arts and Math proficiency rates are lower. However, the school's Hispanic and low-income student subgroups have performed particularly well, ranking in the top 20% and top 25% of Connecticut elementary schools, respectively. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, currently placing it in the middle of the state's elementary schools.

When compared to other nearby magnet schools, such as Charles Barnum Magnet School and Mystic River Magnet School, Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School has generally performed on par or slightly better in terms of academic proficiency rates. However, it lags behind the higher-performing magnet schools in the Waterford School District, such as Quaker Hill Elementary School and Great Neck Elementary School. The school's lower performance in the lower grades, particularly in mathematics, may suggest equity issues that need to be addressed.

Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

500 Poquonnock Rd.
Groton, CT 06340

(860) 449-5608

District: Groton School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
220^th of 497 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,689

Students who attend Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School usually attend:

Middle:	Groton Middle School
High:	Robert E. Fitch High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.2

Number of students: 369

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.5%

Hispanic:

26.8%

Two or more races:

19.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School ranks better than 55.7% of elementary schools in Connecticut. It also ranks 2^nd among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Groton School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.41. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (38.5%), Hispanic (26.8%), two or more races (19.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Groton School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School is 11.2, which is the lowest among 5 elementary schools in the Groton School District! (See more...)

Compare Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School employs 32.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School is $20,689, which is the 2^nd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Groton School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Groton School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Groton School District 102^nd of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

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Rank History for all students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile
2010	38.92	428^th	579	26.1%
2011	30.75	449^th	565	20.5%
2012	29.85	450^th	564	20.2%
2013	20.65	471^st	557	15.4%
2015	33.22	388^th	551	29.6%
2016	26.86	375^th	518	27.6%
2017	35.56	336^th	519	35.3%
2018	36.34	342^nd	532	35.7%
2019	45.05	290^th	522	44.4%
2021	43.51	287^th	538	46.7%
2022	47.20	261^st	490	46.7%
2023	33.34	309^th	491	37.1%
2024	56.41	220^th	497	55.7%

See the entire list of Connecticut Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	59.63	128^th	371	65.5%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	66.33	75^th	302	75.2%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	39.74	258^th	455	43.3%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	39.47	254^th	445	42.9%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	62.12	52^nd	173	69.9%
2023	68.51	20^th	108	81.5%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Connecticut Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Connecticut State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	187	119	37	116	12	n/a	n/a	471
2011	167	118	37	131	8	0	17	478
2012	146	99	37	166	8	0	30	486
2013	115	68	25	169	3	0	38	418
2014	172	53	22	125	0	0	39	411
2015	153	49	31	127	0	0	40	400
2016	156	51	29	118	0	0	42	396
2017	134	37	36	121	0	1	48	377
2018	168	42	43	126	2	0	57	438
2019	161	39	48	126	2	2	52	430
2020	161	34	45	128	2	1	66	437
2021	131	29	45	107	2	2	64	380
2022	119	32	41	103	1	0	63	359
2023	121	30	31	102	2	0	66	352
2024	142	19	35	99	2	0	72	369

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	471	37.2	12.6	58.8
2011	478	39.7	12.0	64.6
2012	486	37.1	13.0	66.3
2013	418	37.8	11.0	72.2
2014	411	37.2	11.0	67.6
2015	400	35.0	11.4	66.8
2016	396	35.0	11.3	67.4
2017	377	34.8	10.8	66
2018	438	34.9	12.5	56.6
2019	430	34.4	12.4	59.3
2020	437	31.6	13.8	57.2
2021	380	27.4	13.8	57.9
2022	359	29.4	12.2	62.4
2023	352	32.4	10.8	54.8
2024	369	32.8	11.2	53.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	471	37.2	12.6	58.8
2011	478	39.7	12.0	64.6
2012	486	37.1	13.0	66.3
2013	418	37.8	11.0	72.2
2014	411	37.2	11.0	67.6
2015	400	35.0	11.4	66.8
2016	396	35.0	11.3	67.4
2017	377	34.8	10.8	66
2018	438	34.9	12.5	56.6
2019	430	34.4	12.4	59.3
2020	437	31.6	13.8	57.2
2021	380	27.4	13.8	57.9
2022	359	29.4	12.2	62.4
2023	352	32.4	10.8	54.8
2024	369	32.8	11.2	53.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$16,034
2019	$16,180
2020	$15,985
2021	$18,452
2022	$19,637
2023	$20,689

Data source: Connecticut Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 290^th of 522 Elementary schools	Ranks 309^th of 491 Elementary schools	7.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	55.6	42.9	12.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Groton School District)	58.3	50.2	8.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	54.3	45.5	8.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	52.4	39.3	13.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Groton School District)	54	50	4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	55	49.8	5.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	64.6	48	16.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Groton School District)	63.3	54.6	8.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	54.6	49.2	5.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	46.2	44.2	2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Groton School District)	54.8	52	2.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	52.5	48.3	4.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	60.3	35.7	24.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Groton School District)	66.1	55.1	11%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	58.1	51.3	6.8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School)	33.3	35.7	2.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Groton School District)	50.8	44.7	6.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Connecticut)	46.5	41.8	4.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	430	352	18.1%
African American	39	30	23.1%
American Indian	2	2
Asian	48	31	35.4%
Hispanic	126	102	19%
Pacific Islander	2	0	100%
White	161	121	24.8%
Two or More Races	52	66	26.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.3%	54.8%	4.5%

Schools Near Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NGSS Science (2024)	SBAC English Language Arts (2024)			SBAC Mathematics (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	Total
Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School	Public, Magnet	K-5	500 Poquonnock Rd.	Groton	06340	New London County	Groton School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 449-5608	369	33	11.2	53.4%	142 (38.5%)	19 (5.1%)	99 (26.8%)	35 (9.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (19.5%)	56.4	220^th of 497 public elementary schools	55.7%		33.3	309^th of 491 public elementary schools	37.1%	89	67.2	47.4	54.7	69.0	50.9	35.8	55.2	$20,689
Thames River Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	250 Brandegee Avenue	Groton	06340	New London County	Groton School District	No	Yes	No	No	(860) 980-8230	531	43	12.4	50.7%	234 (44.1%)	46 (8.7%)	127 (23.9%)	38 (7.2%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	80 (15.1%)	52.9	238^th of 497 public elementary schools	52.1%		50.2	239^th of 491 public elementary schools	51.3%	1	57.4	54.7	43.8	59.3	59.4	47.9		$19,964
Regional Multicultural Magnet School	Public, Magnet	K-5	1 Bulkeley Place	New London	06320	New London County	Learn	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 437-7775	495	38	13.2	68.3%	106 (21.4%)	56 (11.3%)	251 (50.7%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (15.2%)	19.4	367^th of 497 public elementary schools	26.2%		35.3	299^th of 491 public elementary schools	39.1%	68		18.4	39.3	37.7	28.9	34.5	27.3	$20,404
C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet	Public, Magnet	K-5	50 Mercer Street	New London	06320	New London County	New London School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-6050	463	43	10.7	90.7%	32 (6.9%)	74 (16.0%)	316 (68.3%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (7.1%)	5.4	485^th of 497 public elementary schools	2.4%		9.1	443^rd of 491 public elementary schools	9.8%	42	18.3	17.2	16.3	12.0	15.8	12.8		$23,205
Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	K-5	74 Grove Street	New London	06320	New London County	New London School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-6070	479	43	11.1	75.8%	72 (15.0%)	82 (17.1%)	255 (53.2%)	6 (1.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.5%)	22.5	358^th of 497 public elementary schools	28.0%		33.3	310^th of 491 public elementary schools	36.9%	48	42.1	26.9	30.5	39.5	37.7	32.6	28.9	$24,230
Charles Barnum Magnet School	Public	PK, KG-5	68 Briar Hill Rd.	Groton	06340	New London County	Groton School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 449-5640	332	29	11.5	48.8%	170 (51.2%)	28 (8.4%)	83 (25.0%)	11 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (11.7%)	48.9	255^th of 497 public elementary schools	48.7%		44.6	263^rd of 491 public elementary schools	46.4%	8		45.8	54.7	50.0	60.4	46.9	44.0	$19,517
Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School	Public, Magnet	K-5	37 Beech Drive	New London	06320	New London County	New London School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-6060	471	48	9.9	81.7%	79 (16.8%)	75 (15.9%)	246 (52.2%)	7 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	62 (13.2%)	7.4	460^th of 497 public elementary schools	7.4%		10.2	426^th of 491 public elementary schools	13.2%	34	18.3	20.6	24.1	13.3		14.5		$25,896
Mystic River Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	160 Fish Town Rd	Mystic	06355	New London County	Groton School District	No	Yes	No	No	(860) 980-8300	511	43	11.9	52.1%	220 (43.1%)	38 (7.4%)	148 (29.0%)	36 (7.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	65 (12.7%)	36	302^nd of 497 public elementary schools	39.2%		43.4	268^th of 491 public elementary schools	45.4%	34		41.8	38.5	53.6	40.3	40.4	42.9	$21,020
The Friendship School	Public, Magnet	PK-K	24 Rope Ferry Rd.	Waterford	06385	New London County	Learn	No	Yes	No	Yes	(860) 447-4049	459	29	15.8	61.7%	159 (34.6%)	33 (7.2%)	190 (41.4%)	16 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (13.3%)								(n/a)								$17,897
Great Neck Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	165 Great Neck Rd.	Waterford	06385	New London County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 442-2593	334	30	11.0	24.3%	244 (73.1%)	2 (0.6%)	54 (16.2%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (7.8%)	73.8	151^st of 497 public elementary schools	69.6%		80.4	112^th of 491 public elementary schools	77.2%	39			67.4	71.9	64.2	67.4	58.6	$22,337

Frequently Asked Questions about Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School

What schools do graduates of Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School attend?

Students who attend Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Groton Middle School
High : Robert E. Fitch High School

How many students attend Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 369 students attended Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School.

What district is Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School in?

Groton School District

Is Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School a good school?

Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School ranks 220^th of 497 Connecticut elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School?

Students at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School are 38% White, 27% Hispanic, 20% Two or more races, 9% Asian, 5% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.