📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Connecticut
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Darien School District | Darien | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | New Canaan Public Schools | New Canaan | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Colebrook School District | Colebrook | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Westport Public Schools | Westport | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Weston School District | Weston | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #6 | Ridgefield School District | Ridgefield | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #7 | Wilton Public Schools | Wilton | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #8 | Regional School District 09 | Redding | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #9 | Easton School District | Easton | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #10 | Regional School District 18 | Old Lyme | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #11 | Deep River School District | Deep River | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #12 | Chester School District | Chester | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #13 | Madison School District | Madison | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #14 | Essex School District | Centerbrook | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #15 | Cheshire School District | Cheshire | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #16 | Greenwich School District | Greenwich | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #17 | Regional School District 12 | Bridgewater | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #18 | Guilford School District | Guilford | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #19 | Simsbury School District | Simsbury | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #20 | Farmington School District | Farmington | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #21 | Regional School District 05 | New Haven | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #22 | Trumbull School District | Trumbull | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #23 | Glastonbury School District | Glastonbury | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #24 | Cornwall School District | Cornwall | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #25 | Kent School District | Kent | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
Best School Districts in Connecticut (2026)
This ranking covers 151 rated public school districts in Connecticut, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Connecticut School Districts at a Glance
- 151 of the 168 regular school districts operating in Connecticut have a published rating on this site.
- 46 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Connecticut only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Darien School District in Darien, rated 10/10.
- Connecticut has 11 high-school-only districts, so an address here can sit in an elementary district and a separate high school district at the same time. How split districts work →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Connecticut? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Darien School District in Darien, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Connecticut? ▼
Connecticut has 168 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 151 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Connecticut school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Connecticut and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Connecticut are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
46 of the 151 rated districts in Connecticut score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Connecticut, not the country.
Can one address in Connecticut be in two school districts? ▼
Yes. Connecticut has 11 districts that serve only high school grades, so a home can be in an elementary district for the lower grades and a separate high school district for grades 9–12. Search your street address to see every district that serves it.