Best Public Schools in Shelton, CT

The city of Shelton, Connecticut is served by the Shelton School District, which includes 8 public schools covering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, from five elementary schools to one high school. The district overall ranks in the 47th percentile statewide, but that single number hides significant variation—some elementary schools are among the strongest in Connecticut, while others are closer to the middle of the pack. For parents, the key takeaway is that your child’s experience can differ a lot depending on which school they attend.

In the early grades, math is a clear district strength. Long Hill School and Booth Hill School are the academic leaders, both ranking in the 80th percentile statewide with 3rd-grade math proficiency around 83–85%, far above the state average of 52%. Long Hill also has the lowest student–teacher ratio in the district (10.3:1), while Booth Hill has the lowest free/reduced-price lunch rate and very low chronic absenteeism. Elizabeth Shelton School stands out as the efficiency champion: it has the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism (3.7%), the lowest per-student spending, and above-state scores across all grades. For middle grades, Perry Hill Elementary School posts excellent 6th-grade math results (63.1% vs. 44.4% statewide), even though it is not separately ranked.

The biggest concerns are at the high school and a couple of elementary schools. Shelton High School has a strong 94% graduation rate and solid science proficiency, but its chronic absenteeism rate of 23.8% is nearly double the district average—a sharp contrast to the elementary schools, where attendance is generally excellent. Sunnyside School has the highest economic need (51% free/reduced-price lunch), the highest spending, and the lowest elementary ranking, with 3rd-grade scores dropping significantly in one year. Mohegan School is trending downward after a steady ranking decline, while Intermediate School is improving across every subject. In short, Shelton’s elementary math programs are a real strength, but families should watch attendance patterns at the high school and the uneven performance among the elementary schools.