Summary:
Redding, Connecticut, is served by a single public high school — Joel Barlow High School — which educates students in grades 9 through 12 as part of Regional School District 09, a district ranked #3 out of 153 in Connecticut with a 5-star rating.
Joel Barlow High School is an elite institution, ranked #2 out of 133 Connecticut high schools for 2025–2026 with a 5-star rating. It has ranked in the top 6% of the state in each of the past three years. The graduation rate of 97.8% exceeds the state average of 91.2%, while the chronic absenteeism rate of 8.9% is roughly half the Connecticut average of 16.4%. On 11th-grade assessments, proficiency rates reached 89.7% in English Language Arts, 66.9% in math, and 92.1% in science — far exceeding state averages of 55.3%, 31.3%, and 50.5%, respectively. The school also benefits from a low 10.89% free/reduced lunch rate and an 11:1 student–teacher ratio.
Science is the school's strongest subject, outperforming even ELA, while math remains the relative weak spot — though at 66.9%, it is still more than double the state average. Every subject improved year over year (ELA +8.4, math +6.3, science +6.5), which aligns with the school's jump from #8 to #2 in state rankings. Notably, Joel Barlow's test scores exactly match its district's figures, confirming that the high school carries the district's excellent reputation. With a 97.8% graduation rate, minimal chronic absenteeism, and elite academic performance across all subjects, Joel Barlow High School is one of the very best public high schools in Connecticut.
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