Best Public Schools in Old Saybrook, CT

Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is served by the Old Saybrook School District, a small, unified public school system of three schools — Kathleen E. Goodwin School (PK–4), Old Saybrook Middle School (5–8), and Old Saybrook Senior High School (9–12) — that educates roughly 1,028 students in a well-resourced, relatively affluent shoreline community. The district ranks 64th out of 153 Connecticut districts (58th percentile, 3 stars), with low student-teacher ratios (below 10:1), high per-student spending (about $20,400–$22,100), and free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from about 22% to 25%.

The clear standout is Old Saybrook Middle School, the district's only 4-star school and strongest academic performer, climbing from the 77th to the 88th percentile over three years. Its 2025–2026 test scores beat state averages in every subject and grade tested — most notably 6th grade math (78.1% proficient vs. 44.4% statewide) and 5th grade science (79.4% vs. 52.2%). Kathleen E. Goodwin School is improving too, rising from the 50th to the 67th percentile, with strong 3rd grade math (75.8%) and 4th grade ELA (70.9%), though 4th grade math (49.1%) trails the state. The district's biggest concern is Old Saybrook Senior High School: despite an excellent 94.3% graduation rate, its ranking dropped from the 75th to the 57th percentile, driven by double-digit declines in SAT ELA (77.5% to 65.6%), SAT math (42.3% to 33.3%), and NGSS science (59.7% to 48.4%).

District-wide, chronic absenteeism is a major strength — just 5.6% to 6.0% at all three schools versus 16.4% statewide. All three schools serve a similar share of economically disadvantaged students (22–25% free/reduced lunch), and the middle school, with the highest share, is the top performer. Math proficiency is inconsistent across grade bands — strong in 3rd grade, collapsing in 4th, strong again in 6th, and only 33.3% at the high school. Science is excellent at the middle school (79.4%) but below the state at the high school (48.4% vs. 50.5%). With per-pupil spending above $20,000 and student-teacher ratios below 10:1 at every school, the district has a solid foundation; reversing the high school's decline is the clear next priority.