Best Public Schools in Litchfield, CT

The city of Litchfield, Connecticut is served by four public schools in Regional School District 20, which together educate approximately 1,301 students across grades PK-12, from Litchfield Center School (grades PK-3) to Lakeview High School (grades 9-12). All four schools are relatively small, with enrollment ranging from 121 at Litchfield Intermediate School to 583 at Lakeview High School, and student-teacher ratios ranging from 9.8 to 13.3. The district ranks 62nd out of 153 Connecticut districts, placing it in the 59th percentile with a 3-star rating.

Plumb Hill Middle School is the clear standout, earning 4 stars and ranking in the 79th percentile among Connecticut middle schools. Its chronic absenteeism rate is an exceptional 1.8%, and it exceeds state proficiency averages in every grade and subject tested, with particularly strong results in 8th grade math (67% vs. 41.9%) and 8th grade science (71.4% vs. 50.9%). Lakeview High School posts an excellent 97.1% graduation rate but struggles with a 24.0% chronic absenteeism rate — far higher than the other three schools, which range from 1.8% to 5.0%. Litchfield Intermediate School is strongest in English Language Arts, with 4th grade ELA proficiency at 76.4%, but 5th grade math (53.7%) trails the district average of 59.6%. Litchfield Center School saw notable declines in 3rd grade ELA and math, though both remain above state averages.

The most striking finding is the contrast between Lakeview High School and the rest of the district. While the high school graduates 97.1% of its students, only 35.6% of 11th graders are proficient in math and 40.5% in science — below the state average of 50.5%. Plumb Hill Middle School demonstrates the district's potential with near-zero absenteeism and scores 20-25 points above state averages in 8th grade math and science. Math performance is inconsistent across grade levels, with strong results in 4th and 8th grade but weaker performance in 3rd and 5th grade. Overall, Litchfield's small, well-resourced schools provide a strong foundation, but addressing high school engagement and science achievement while replicating the middle school's success could elevate the district to top-tier status.