Is James Hillhouse High School a good school?

James Hillhouse High School ranks in the bottom 9.0% of Connecticut high schools.

How many students attend James Hillhouse High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,139 students attended James Hillhouse High School.

What is the racial makeup of James Hillhouse High School?

Students at James Hillhouse High School are 47% African American, 42% Hispanic, 5% White, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

What schools feed into James Hillhouse High School?

James Hillhouse High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Augusta Lewis Troup School Elementary : Barnard Environmental Magnet School Elementary : Beecher School Elementary : Brennan Rogers School Elementary : Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation Elementary : Edgewood School Elementary : King/Robinson Magnet School Elementary : Lincoln-Bassett School Elementary : Wexler/Grant Community School

James Hillhouse High School

Summary:

James Hillhouse High School is a public high school in New Haven, Connecticut, serving 1,139 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the New Haven School District, which is ranked 149 out of 158 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

James Hillhouse High School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Connecticut, with a statewide ranking between 120-191 out of 121-200 high schools over the past decade. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 132 out of 145 Connecticut high schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Only 22.7% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts, 7.1% in SAT/Math, and 14.4% in NGSS/Science, significantly lower than state and district averages. The school's performance on various student subgroups is also concerning, ranking in the bottom 25 out of 25 Connecticut high schools for African American students and in the bottom 63 out of 63 for Hispanic students.

In contrast, nearby schools like Engineering - Science University Magnet School, which is only 2.62 miles away, consistently outperform James Hillhouse High School on academic measures, ranking in the top 60 Connecticut high schools with a 3-star rating. Despite the school's low performance, James Hillhouse High School receives relatively high per-student spending, with $17,424 spent per student in the 2018-2019 school year, suggesting that the issue may not be solely a lack of funding, but rather the effective allocation and utilization of resources.

Detail:

Public 9-12

480 Sherman Parkway
New Haven, CT 06511

(475) 220-7500

District: New Haven School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
132^nd of 145 Connecticut High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,579

Feeder schools for James Hillhouse High School:

Elementary:	Augusta Lewis Troup School
	Barnard Environmental Magnet School
	Beecher School
	Brennan Rogers School
	More...
	Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation
	Edgewood School
	King/Robinson Magnet School
	Lincoln-Bassett School
	Wexler/Grant Community School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.9

Number of students: 1,139

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.4%

Hispanic:

41.6%

White:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 79.4%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare James Hillhouse High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details James Hillhouse High School ranks worse than 91% of high schools in Connecticut. It also ranks last among 7 ranked high schools in the New Haven School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.71. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (47.4%), Hispanic (41.6%), White (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 79.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the New Haven School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at James Hillhouse High School is 14.9. 7 high schools in the New Haven School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare James Hillhouse High School employs 76 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at James Hillhouse High School is $19,579. 6 high schools in the New Haven School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

James Hillhouse High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks James Hillhouse High School 132^nd of 145 Connecticut public high schools. (See James Hillhouse High School in the ranking list.)

New Haven School District:

SchoolDigger ranks New Haven School District 149^th of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for James Hillhouse High School.

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Rank History for James Hillhouse High School

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Rank History for all students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2007	1.15	169^th	176	4.0%
2008	0.97	170^th	176	3.4%
2009	0.85	171^st	176	2.8%
2010	2.81	175^th	186	5.9%
2011	2.00	180^th	189	4.8%
2012	1.72	181^st	188	3.7%
2013	2.35	181^st	193	6.2%
2015	5.17	191^st	196	2.6%
2016	5.99	125^th	132	5.3%
2017	5.28	135^th	140	3.6%
2019	4.12	120^th	121	0.8%
2021	5.29	191^st	200	4.5%
2022	6.18	134^th	139	3.6%
2023	6.55	133^rd	142	6.3%
2024	8.71	132^nd	145	9.0%

See the entire list of Connecticut High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	0.00	1^st	10	90.0%
2022	0.00	11^th	17	35.3%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	6.92	168^th	175	4.0%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	8.31	147^th	155	5.2%
2023	8.57	69^th	70	1.4%

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

Rank History for Female students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	2.97	76^th	79	3.8%
2021	4.45	185^th	189	2.1%
2023	3.43	101^st	103	1.9%

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

Rank History for Male students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	6.05	170^th	182	6.6%
2023	3.80	98^th	100	2.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	13.43	11^th	11	0.0%
2021	19.12	52^nd	58	10.3%
2023	10.50	25^th	25	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at James Hillhouse High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2021	9.11	100^th	104	3.8%
2022	16.37	51^st	59	13.6%
2023	7.93	63^rd	63	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut High 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a student
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Great!!

by a parent
Saturday, September 15, 2012

The new principal sets a bad example by appearing in the media and using language like: "my momma didn't raise no punk." That some of his athletes had to leave school because of alleged grade tampering is a disgrace. Close Quote

Enrollment information for James Hillhouse High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	19	1226	3	49	0	n/a	n/a	0	1297
1989	9	1176	12	68	0	n/a	n/a	0	1265
1990	9	1158	2	66	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	1235
1991	12	953	4	51	0	n/a	n/a	0	1020
1992	9	966	2	44	0	n/a	n/a	0	1021
1993	6	1014	1	41	0	n/a	n/a	0	1062
1994	6	999	0	45	1	n/a	n/a	0	1051
1995	14	1028	1	45	1	n/a	n/a	0	1089
1996	14	1028	1	45	1	n/a	n/a	0	1089
1997	16	1011	3	63	0	n/a	n/a	0	1093
1998	24	1053	6	73	0	n/a	n/a	0	1156
1999	15	942	2	55	0	n/a	n/a	0	1014
2000	11	840	5	56	0	n/a	n/a	0	912
2001	12	962	4	61	1	n/a	n/a	0	1040
2002	25	1128	4	139	0	n/a	n/a	-1	1295
2003	25	1128	4	139	0	n/a	n/a	-1	1295
2004	28	1142	6	129	0	n/a	n/a	0	1305
2005	24	1139	6	124	0	n/a	n/a	0	1293
2006	18	910	2	100	0	n/a	n/a	0	1030
2007	23	1018	0	140	0	n/a	n/a	0	1181
2008	14	935	2	136	0	n/a	n/a	0	1087
2009	13	847	4	151	1	n/a	n/a	0	1016
2010	12	785	2	148	0	n/a	n/a	0	947
2011	25	745	4	186	3	0	0	0	963
2012	22	748	5	196	2	0	4	0	977
2013	24	743	4	205	3	0	8	0	987
2014	22	728	7	215	3	0	5	0	980
2015	38	713	8	271	3	0	6	0	1039
2016	38	667	7	226	5	0	2	0	945
2017	33	604	10	262	2	0	2	0	913
2018	52	565	8	299	2	0	1	0	927
2019	46	597	8	289	1	1	4	0	946
2020	47	604	12	394	2	1	14	0	1074
2021	54	615	23	445	0	1	18	0	1156
2022	49	594	25	474	1	0	28	0	1171
2023	57	540	39	474	1	0	25	3	1139

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 James Hillhouse High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1297	93.0	13.9	n/a
1989	1265	95.0	13.3	n/a
1990	1235	93.0	13.2	n/a
1991	1020	84.0	12.1	n/a
1992	1021	87.2	11.7	13.2
1993	1062	81.0	13.1	1.3
1994	1051	77.5	13.6	58.2
1995	1089	77.3	14.1	54.5
1996	1089	77.3	14.1	54.5
1997	1093	76.5	14.3	40
1998	1156	80.3	14.4	38.1
1999	1014	82.2	12.3	34
2000	912	79.5	11.5	37.1
2001	1040	73.5	14.1	n/a
2002	1295	88.0	14.7	50.3
2003	1295	88.0	14.7	50.3
2004	1305	92.5	14.1	45.4
2005	1293	85.8	15.1	n/a
2006	1030	84.3	12.2	83.2
2007	1181	80.5	14.7	82.8
2008	1087	93.7	11.6	75.7
2009	1016	105.7	10.6	59.9
2010	947	92.0	10.2	73.5
2011	963	86.0	11.1	80.9
2012	977	83.2	11.7	77.7
2013	987	81.5	12.1	81.4
2014	980	73.5	13.3	65.6
2015	1039	78.0	13.3	55.1
2016	945	81.0	11.6	60.6
2017	913	84.0	10.8	62.9
2018	927	93.0	9.9	67.7
2019	946	80.0	11.8	79.5
2020	1074	66.0	16.2	73.5
2021	1156	77.0	15.0	73
2022	1171	85.0	13.7	74
2023	1139	76.0	14.9	79.4

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 James Hillhouse High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1297	93.0	13.9	n/a
1989	1265	95.0	13.3	n/a
1990	1235	93.0	13.2	n/a
1991	1020	84.0	12.1	n/a
1992	1021	87.2	11.7	13.2
1993	1062	81.0	13.1	1.3
1994	1051	77.5	13.6	58.2
1995	1089	77.3	14.1	54.5
1996	1089	77.3	14.1	54.5
1997	1093	76.5	14.3	40
1998	1156	80.3	14.4	38.1
1999	1014	82.2	12.3	34
2000	912	79.5	11.5	37.1
2001	1040	73.5	14.1	n/a
2002	1295	88.0	14.7	50.3
2003	1295	88.0	14.7	50.3
2004	1305	92.5	14.1	45.4
2005	1293	85.8	15.1	n/a
2006	1030	84.3	12.2	83.2
2007	1181	80.5	14.7	82.8
2008	1087	93.7	11.6	75.7
2009	1016	105.7	10.6	59.9
2010	947	92.0	10.2	73.5
2011	963	86.0	11.1	80.9
2012	977	83.2	11.7	77.7
2013	987	81.5	12.1	81.4
2014	980	73.5	13.3	65.6
2015	1039	78.0	13.3	55.1
2016	945	81.0	11.6	60.6
2017	913	84.0	10.8	62.9
2018	927	93.0	9.9	67.7
2019	946	80.0	11.8	79.5
2020	1074	66.0	16.2	73.5
2021	1156	77.0	15.0	73
2022	1171	85.0	13.7	74
2023	1139	76.0	14.9	79.4

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 James Hillhouse High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$18,204
2019	$17,424
2020	$16,300
2021	$16,807
2022	$19,008
2023	$19,579

Data source: Connecticut Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on James Hillhouse High 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 120^th of 121 High schools	Ranks 133^rd of 142 High schools	5.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (James Hillhouse High School)	15.2	14.5	0.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (New Haven School District)	34.3	26.8	7.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	61.6	52.4	9.2%
11th Grade Math (James Hillhouse High School)	4	4.1	0.1%
11th Grade Math (New Haven School District)	12.1	11.4	0.7%
11th Grade Math (Connecticut)	40.6	34.1	6.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	946	1139	20.4%
African American	597	540	9.5%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	8	39	387.5%
Hispanic	289	474	64%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	46	57	23.9%
Two or More Races	4	25	525%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	79.5%	79.4%	0.1%

Schools Near James Hillhouse High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NGSS Science (2024)		SAT English Language Arts (2024)	SAT Math (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 8th Grade	NGSS Science 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT Math 11th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
James Hillhouse High School	Public	9-12	480 Sherman Parkway	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	No	No	Yes	(475) 220-7500	1,139	76	14.9	79.4%	57 (5.0%)	540 (47.4%)	474 (41.6%)	39 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (2.2%)	8.7	132^nd of 145 public high schools	9.0%		6.5	133^rd of 142 public high schools	6.3%	1		14.4	22.7	7.1							$19,579
Hill Regional Career High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	140 Legion Ave.	New Haven	06519	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-5000	651	60	10.8	78.5%	46 (7.1%)	262 (40.2%)	305 (46.9%)	22 (3.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.0%)	9.6	130^th of 145 public high schools	10.3%		13.6	118^th of 142 public high schools	16.9%	12		18.0	25.4	5.1							$21,242
New Haven Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	444 Orange Street	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6600	336	22	15.2	61.3%	43 (12.8%)	169 (50.3%)	110 (32.7%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)								(n/a)				16.2							$19,452
Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	177 College Street	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-2400	557	54	10.3	63.7%	86 (15.4%)	245 (44.0%)	198 (35.5%)	8 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.7%)	29.3	96^th of 145 public high schools	33.8%		19.2	109^th of 142 public high schools	23.2%	13		27.5	50.9	15.7							$20,980
Eli Whitney Technical High School	Public	9-12	100 Fairview Ave	Hamden	06514	New Haven County	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 397-4031	619	50	12.4	66.7%	27 (4.4%)	212 (34.2%)	348 (56.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.4%)								(n/a)			16.2								$28,576
Common Ground High School	Public, Charter	9-12	358 Springside Ave.	New Haven	06515	New Haven County	Common Ground High School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(203) 389-4333	226	14	16.1	69.0%	44 (19.5%)	68 (30.1%)	103 (45.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.7%)								(n/a)				15.2							$20,125
High School In The Community	Public, Magnet	9-12	175 Water St.	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(475) 220-6200	284	27	10.5	78.9%	20 (7.0%)	123 (43.3%)	135 (47.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	12.6	123^rd of 145 public high schools	15.2%		7.3	131^st of 142 public high schools	7.7%	8		26.1	22.6								$24,040
Wilbur Cross High School	Public	9-12	181 Mitchell Dr.	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	No	No	No	(475) 220-7400	1,633	129	12.6	75.9%	169 (10.3%)	352 (21.6%)	1,058 (64.8%)	39 (2.4%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (0.7%)	11.5	126^th of 145 public high schools	13.1%		13.8	117^th of 142 public high schools	17.6%	9		17.1	29.0	8.3							$18,689
Metropolitan Business Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	115 Water Street	New Haven	06511	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-7700	405	32	12.6	72.8%	38 (9.4%)	148 (36.5%)	199 (49.1%)	13 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)								(n/a)		15.9									$19,920
Engineering - Science University Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-12	500 Boston Post Road	West Haven	06516	New Haven County	New Haven School District	No	Yes	No	No	(475) 220-6000	598	57	10.4	49.5%	163 (27.3%)	192 (32.1%)	154 (25.8%)	52 (8.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.7%)	60.7	59^th of 145 public high schools	59.3%		65	54^th of 142 public high schools	62.0%	5	58.0	43.4	72.3	31.3	60.5	58.0	73.9	40.7	53.4	50.0	$21,018

James Hillhouse High School

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Rank History for James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for all students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for Special Education students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for Female students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for Male students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for African American students at James Hillhouse High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at James Hillhouse High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for James Hillhouse High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at James Hillhouse High School

Student/Teacher Ratio James Hillhouse High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for James Hillhouse High School

Impact of COVID-19 on James Hillhouse High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near James Hillhouse High School

Frequently Asked Questions about James Hillhouse High School

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