Best Elementary Schools in Portland, CT

The city of Portland, Connecticut is home to two elementary schools: Gildersleeve School and Valley View School, both serving students in the Portland School District. Gildersleeve School consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Connecticut, with impressive academic performance that exceeds state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. In contrast, the available data on Valley View School is more limited, making it difficult to fully assess its performance in comparison.

Gildersleeve School's standout performance is evident in its statewide ranking of 117 out of 493 schools in the 2024-2025 school year and its 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 69.6% of 3rd graders and 67.6% of 4th graders at Gildersleeve were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state averages of 46.9% and 51.4%, respectively. Similarly, the school outperformed the district and state in mathematics, with 69.6% of 3rd graders and 74% of 4th graders scoring proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 52.2% and 51.4%.

While Gildersleeve School's performance is impressive, both it and Valley View School face the challenge of high chronic absenteeism rates, exceeding the state's goal of 10% or less. Additionally, Gildersleeve School serves a higher percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch compared to Valley View School, which may indicate the need for further investigation to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities across the district. Continued monitoring and analysis of the schools' data, as well as targeted interventions to address chronic absenteeism, could help support student success in the Portland elementary school system.