Schools in Groton, CT

Groton, Connecticut is home to Robert E. Fitch High School, Groton Middle School, Ella T. Grasso Technical High School, Thames River Magnet School, Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School, Charles Barnum Magnet School, and Marine Science Magnet High School — 7 public schools serving roughly 4,000 students from elementary through high school. Most belong to the Groton School District, while two high schools are governed by the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System and the Learn district respectively.

The clear academic leader is Marine Science Magnet High School, ranked 23rd in the state with the highest SAT and science scores, a 98.4% graduation rate, and the lowest student-teacher ratio at 10.5:1. In contrast, Ella T. Grasso Technical High School posts the best graduation rate (98.7%) and low chronic absenteeism, but only 9.1% of students are proficient in SAT math. Among elementary schools, Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School is the strongest, beating state averages in 3rd grade math and 5th grade science despite 80% poverty. Charles Barnum Magnet School struggles most, especially in 4th grade ELA. Robert E. Fitch High School, the largest school, has solid test scores but a 25.4% chronic absenteeism rate.

A key takeaway is that high poverty doesn't always mean low performance — Thames River Magnet School and Kolnaski both exceed expectations despite high free/reduced lunch rates. Groton Middle School improved across every subject in the latest year. Early elementary gains are promising, though upper elementary results remain inconsistent. Spending varies widely, but smaller class sizes and targeted programs appear more impactful than raw dollars. Overall, Groton offers a wide range of school experiences, from a top-tier magnet high school to struggling elementary programs, so parents should look closely at individual school data rather than the district label alone.