Best Public Schools in Portland, CT

The city of Portland, Connecticut is home to 5 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. Overall, the schools in the Portland School District demonstrate a relatively consistent level of academic performance, with some standout schools and areas for improvement.

Gildersleeve School, an elementary school, has consistently ranked among the top 25% of Connecticut elementary schools, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its students have demonstrated strong academic performance, with over 65% proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics on state assessments. Meanwhile, Portland High School has shown improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from 37th to 53rd out of 141 Connecticut high schools over the past 3 years, and boasts an 88.4% four-year graduation rate, which is above the state average.

Across the district, students generally perform above the state average in English Language Arts and Science, with Gildersleeve School and Portland Middle School standing out for their strong test scores. However, Mathematics performance is more mixed, with some schools scoring above the state average and others below. Additionally, the district faces a challenge with high chronic absenteeism rates across all schools, which could be an area for further investigation and improvement.